How to Make Oobleck: Is it a Liquid or Solid?

Easy

Get ready to play with Oobleck, a substance made of cornstarch and water that can act like a liquid and a solid! When you push or squeeze it, it turns solid, but when you let it rest, it flows like a liquid. Scientists call it a non-Newtonian fluid, and it behaves in ways that defy our expectations of how liquids should act.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that when you mix cornstarch and water, it will create a substance that behaves like a liquid at times and a solid in other times.

Method & Materials

You will mix cornstarch and water together to create Oobleck, then play around with it to see how it behaves. You can try picking it up and squeezing it to make a ball, tapping it slowly or quickly with a spoon, and letting it drip through your fingers. You might be surprised by what you discover!

You will need dry cornstarch, water, a large bowl or pan, food coloring (optional), measuring cups, and newspaper to protect your workspace from messes.

Results

In conclusion, Oobleck is a fascinating substance that challenges our understanding of how liquids behave. It seems like when you squeeze oobleck hard, it will behave like a solid, but if you let it flow, it will behave like a liquid.

Why do this project?

The simple mixture of cornstarch and water is a fun introduction to the complex science of non-Newtonian fluids!

Also Consider

Try adding different amounts of cornstarch and water to see how it affects the behavior of the Oobleck. Add other materials to the Oobleck, like sand or glitter, to see how it affects its properties.