Question

A scientist wonders what would happen if 10 million liters of crude oil were dumped into Lake Michigan. Which of the following is the most ethical reason for running a simulation rather than dumping actual oil into Lake Michigan?
A. It is too expensive to buy that much crude oil for an experiment.
B. An experiment should cause no harm to the natural world.
C. A computer should always be used in an experiment.
D. A scientist might live too far from Lake Michigan to observe it easily.

Answer 1

Answer: B. An experiment should cause no harm to the natural world.

Explanation:

A simultation is a model or substance which can be used to mimic the natural phenomena or event.

According to the given situation, the scientists want to know the impact of crude oil if dumped in Lake Michigan.

Instead of using the original oil the use of simulation is better as it will not exert negative influnece over the environment. As oil is expected to contaminate the water which a simulation will not. The oil will cut the supply of atmospheric oxygen in water hence will affect the life of marine animals.

Answer 2

B.
If you were to just dump 10 million liters of crude oil into a lake without knowing what it would do... If the results were bad, then that would harm the environment. (And I guess we all know what will happen if oil is dumped into a lake.)