Oil skimmer

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/oil-skimmer

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary application?Removal of free-floating hydrocarbons from water surfaces
2. What is the historical milestone?Significant use in the Exxon Valdez oil spill remediation in 1989
3. How does an oil skimmer work?It uses different tricks to grab oil. Some have a dam that lets oil flow into a bucket. Others have special ropes or discs that oil sticks to, and then the oil is pulled out. Some even suck the oil with a vacuum.
4. Why do we need oil skimmers?Oil spills hurt fish, birds, and the whole water world. Oil skimmers help stop that damage by removing the oil quickly. They also help factories keep their water clean and follow rules.

Hydrocarbon: A compound made up of only hydrogen and carbon atoms, such as oil and natural gas.
Entrainment: The process where water is accidentally drawn into or mixed with oil during recovery operations.
Oleophilic Materials: Substances that have a strong affinity for oil, used in skimmers to attract and collect hydrocarbons.