Experimenting with Science by Olivia J. Mullins

Author:Olivia J. Mullins
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781119291343
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2016-06-17T00:00:00+00:00

Begin by playing around with the oobleck.

What observations can you make?

Try (carefully) punching the oobleck and then let your hand sink in.

Can you pull your hand out quickly, or do you have to move it slowly to get out of the oobleck?

The science

The cornstarch/water mixtures has the properties of both a solid and a liquid. Materials that have this property have a fancy name called non-Newtonian fluids. The factor that determines whether the oobleck will act as a solid or liquid is the amount of pressure or force you put on it. When you punch it, it acts like a solid because of the strong force. But when you slowly sink your hand into it, the force is low, and so it acts like a liquid!

There are lots of examples of non-Newtonian fluids around you, and even in you! Ketchup, shampoo, and blood are all examples. (Sometimes, though, these act in an opposite way from oobleck. Ketchup, for example, acts like a liquid under pressure and a solid otherwise.)

Going further

Make oobleck in a large enough container that you can walk on it. Try running fast or jumping and see how long it takes before you sink. Explore other non-Newtonian fluids around your home.

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