Experiment 2: Oobly Oobleck!
Just what is an "oobleck"?
It just is a mixture of corn starch and water! The amazing thing is, it becomes a NON-NEWTONIAN FLUID! (Huh? What's that?) This simply means that it becomes either a solid or liquid depending on the amount of stress applied on it. In other words, if you hit is hard, then it becomes a solid. If you are gentle, then it becomes a liquid!
It is so easy to make and it is so much fun to play with! The students tried laying their hands on it and their hands started to sink into the mixture. Later on, the students made a fist and started hitting the oobleck and they were surprised to find out that it was as hard as concrete! OUCH!
The most important thing to remember is DON'T DISPOSE OR THROW USED OOBLECK DOWN THE DRAIN!!! It can clog the pipes! Put the whole thing in a plastic bag and put it in the rubbish bin!
Now, are you ready to make another batch of oobleck?
It just is a mixture of corn starch and water! The amazing thing is, it becomes a NON-NEWTONIAN FLUID! (Huh? What's that?) This simply means that it becomes either a solid or liquid depending on the amount of stress applied on it. In other words, if you hit is hard, then it becomes a solid. If you are gentle, then it becomes a liquid!
It is so easy to make and it is so much fun to play with! The students tried laying their hands on it and their hands started to sink into the mixture. Later on, the students made a fist and started hitting the oobleck and they were surprised to find out that it was as hard as concrete! OUCH!
The most important thing to remember is DON'T DISPOSE OR THROW USED OOBLECK DOWN THE DRAIN!!! It can clog the pipes! Put the whole thing in a plastic bag and put it in the rubbish bin!
Now, are you ready to make another batch of oobleck?
The EXPERIMENT: Making Oobleck
Playing with oobleck is a lot of fun but it is very educational and amazing as well! Oobleck is an example of a non-Newtonian fluid.
Our Objective: To make a batch of non-Newtonian
Our Materials:
Our Objective: To make a batch of non-Newtonian
Our Materials:
- water
- corn starch
- basin
Procedure:
- Put half a box of corn starch into the basin. Add about half a cup of water.
- Using your hands, start mixing the corn starch and water until it dissolves.
- Add the remaining corn starch. DO NOT ADD WATER! Again, use your hands to mix the corn starch. At this point, the mixture will be very hard to mix. If it seems a bit dry (meaning, you still see some corn starch powder) add a little water, maybe a teaspoon. IF YOU ADD TOO MUCH WATER, THE MIXTURE WILL BECOME RUNNY!
- You know you have oobleck if you are able to grab chunks of the mixture which "melts" when you just let it sit on your hand. If you put too much water, just add a little more corn starch. NOW YOU ARE READY TO PLAY!
- Rest your hand on top of the oobleck. What happens? Make a fist and hit the oobleck. What happens?
For Parents...
Science is a great way to develop your children's critical thinking and logical reasoning skills! So, ask them to share what they did during science club. They should have brought home the products of the experiments or even some materials to do the experiment at home with you! Have a discussion about the experimental process and do extension activities! I promise that you will have as much fun as your children had and they will have a blast being your TEACHER!
Discussion Questions:
Extension Activities:
Discussion Questions:
- Why do you think we shouldn't put too much water into the oobleck?
- You now know what a non-Newtonian Fluid is. What do you think is a Newtonian Fluid?
Extension Activities:
- Shape your oobleck into a small ball. Make sure to keep passing the oobleck ball from one hand to the other. You can also throw is up and but make sure to catch it with your hands! Find someone to play catch with. What happened to the oobleck ball? Were you able to pass it around? Take photos and videos! Share them with me. My email address is: [email protected].
Don't believe me? Here's proof!
Check out what the Y2s did! |