Oobleck: The “Walk-on-Water” Wonder!
Welcome back, young scientists! You’ve explored the fascinating world of bioluminescent and magnetoreceptive slimes. Now, get ready to dive into a material that defies expectations: Oobleck!
Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it doesn’t follow the “rules” of typical liquids like water. Sometimes it acts like a liquid, flowing through your fingers, but sometimes it acts like a solid, resisting quick pressure. Today, you’ll become materials scientists, exploring its unique properties and thinking about how such materials are used in the real world.
Your Challenge: Mastering the Mystery of Oobleck
What you’ll explore:
- Pressure Play: How does oobleck react to different amounts of force? What happens if you push it slowly versus punching it quickly?
- Motion Magic: Can you “walk” on oobleck? Or make objects move through it in surprising ways?
- Beyond the Bowl: How might materials like oobleck be used in engineering, medicine, or even protecting athletes?
Materials you’ll need:
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Large mixing bowls or shallow bins
- Measuring cups
- Spoons or mixing sticks
- Optional: Food coloring (for fun!)
Your Experiment:
- Mixing the Magic: In your bowl, slowly add water to the cornstarch, mixing with your hands or a spoon. Start with about 2 cups of cornstarch and gradually add about 1 cup of water. Keep adding small amounts of water or cornstarch until you get a consistency that is thick when you apply pressure but flows when you relax your grip. It should feel firm if you tap it quickly but liquid if you slowly sink your hand into it.
- Test Your Theories:
- Try punching the surface. What do you feel?
- Slowly lower your hand into it. What happens?
- Try to roll a ball of oobleck in your hands. Can you keep it solid? What happens if you stop moving it?
- If you have small objects, try dropping them from different heights or pushing them through the oobleck at different speeds. Observe how the oobleck reacts.
- Real-World Connections:
- Imagine you need a material that can protect someone from impact but also needs to be flexible. Could oobleck (or similar non-Newtonian fluids) be useful? Where else might you see these properties in action? (Think about “smart” body armor, speed bumps, or even quicksand!)
- Discuss how scientists and engineers study these unique properties to create new materials for specific purposes. This field is called materials science or chemical engineering.
Think about it: What did you discover about how force and speed change the properties of oobleck? How does this compare to the slimes you made previously? What new questions does oobleck spark in your mind?
Get messy, experiment boldly, and have fun uncovering the secrets of this amazing non-Newtonian wonder!