Let’s Get Physical With Oil

Physical properties are observed characteristics. Crude oil comes in a variety of colors and thickness. Though the color is usually black, it can also have other colors mixed in like red, green, yellow. It can even be transparent. The color of crude oil is determined by chemical composition. The smell of crude oil can be sweet or foul (sour).

Learn more about types of oil here:

Petroleum, or crude oil, is a naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbons found in geologic formations, such as rock strata. Petroleum is a fossil fuel formed from the action of intense pressure and heat on buried and dead microscopic plants and animals.

In this lesson, students will create models of crude oil. Then, with graduated cylinders and balances, students will use measurements to classify their models similar to the way scientists classify crude oil.

Teach your students about physical properties of matter with this fourth grade science lesson.