Why Don't Oil and Water Mix?

Use the phenomenon below to help you answer the questions that follow. In the glass below, we see a layer of oil on top of a layer of water.
NGSS Phenomena:
Oil and Water


References
By Victor Blacus - Victor Blacus, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Cooper, Martin. “oil and water | Olive oil floating on water... | Martin Cooper.” Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/m-a-r-t-i-n/16074051604. Accessed 14 November 2022.

Photo on Pixnio

1. Using the model, answer the following question: The liquid on top has molecules that are , which makes it rise to the top. The liquid on bottom has molecules that are , which makes it sink to the bottom.

Drag the answers below into the grey placeholders above

tightly packed/closer together
more loosely packed/further apart

2.
How can the difference in density of these two liquids be used to model oceanic and continental plates? Refer to both illustrated models in your response and include why it is beneficial to use models.

3.
How is this image different than the image of the oil and water in the cup? What is the benefit of each type of image? Refer to the images in your response.

4. Describe another model that relates to the image. Be sure to explain the connection between your model and the oil & water in the image. Lastly, is your model on a scale similar to the oil and water? Explain.

5. The liquid on top must be dense, which makes it rise to the top. The liquid on the bottom must be dense, which makes it sink to the bottom.

Drag the answers below into the grey placeholders above

more loosely packed/further apart
tightly packed/closer together

6. How does the difference in density of these two liquids relate to the difference in density of the oceanic and continental plates?

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  • Developing and Using Models

  • Scale, Proportion, and Quantity

This matching question aligns to the following standards

  • PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter

This free response question aligns to the following standards

  • MS-ESS2-3

  • Patterns

  • PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter

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