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What do corn starch and water make?

Published in Science Experiment 2 mins read

Corn starch and water make a non-Newtonian fluid called oobleck, which has unusual properties.

Oobleck is a suspension that acts like both a solid and a liquid, depending on the pressure applied to it. This unique behavior is due to the way the corn starch particles interact with each other in water.

How Oobleck Works:

When you apply pressure to oobleck (like squeezing it or hitting it), the corn starch particles pack tightly together, causing the mixture to behave like a solid. This is because the water gets squeezed out from between the starch particles, increasing the friction between them.

However, when you remove the pressure, the corn starch particles can move more freely, and the mixture flows like a liquid. The water acts as a lubricant, allowing the particles to slide past each other easily.

Properties of Oobleck:

  • Non-Newtonian Fluid: Its viscosity changes based on the applied stress.
  • Shear Thickening: Its viscosity increases with applied shear stress.
  • Fun to Play With: Its unique properties make it a popular science experiment and a fun material to play with.

Example:

If you quickly punch a bowl of oobleck, it will feel like a solid. But if you slowly dip your hand into it, it will flow around your fingers like a liquid. If you pick up a handful and stop squeezing, it will melt and drip back into the bowl.