Oobleck

Oobleck is a liquid which when pressure is applied turns into a dancing solid.  This experiment can be made at home in five seconds tops.  First lets look at how to make it, use it, and why oobleck does what it does.

What you need:

1. Cornstarch 2 cups
2. Water 1 cup

• just make sure your cornstarch is double what you have for water.

Experiment Time!:

1. Stir ingredients together.
2. Pour out onto a flat surface, and spread evenly.
3. Place hands over top of oobleck palm down.
4. Arch fingers in with palm still face towards oobleck.
5. Press fingers into oobleck until you hit the flat surface.
6. To make liquid appear to be solid and dance press fingers into oobleck, and out rapidly (fast) with pressure.

Explanation:

The word oobleck originated from Dr. Seuss in his book “Bartholomew and the Oobleck.”  Oobleck is known as green precipitation in the book.  Oobleck is known as bloop in the United Kingdom.  Oobleck demonstrates the dilatant property of non-Newtonian fluids.  Dilatant is the thickening of a fluid with pressure.  Non-Newtonian fluids is a fluid in which the flow changes with the pressure.

Enjoy.