Oobleck how does it work

Helpful 3 Not Helpful 3. If you add food coloring, your Oobleck will be much messier and have a cool effect to the project! Helpful 2 Not Helpful 2.

Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Oobleck isn't poisonous, but it tastes awful. Wash your hands after playing. Make sure children are supervised. Helpful 24 Not Helpful 7. Do not pour the Oobleck down the drain or else the drain may become clogged. Helpful 22 Not Helpful 7. Lay a couple newspapers on the floor so it doesn't get all over the floor or table.

Helpful 20 Not Helpful 7. Helpful 20 Not Helpful 8. Be aware that if Oobleck is left out too long, it will dry out and turn back to cornstarch.

Just throw it away when you're done with it. Helpful 18 Not Helpful 7. Don't use plastic spoons to mix the ingredients. It might break if there is too much pressure. Helpful 22 Not Helpful Don't worry too much if it gets on something; it will come out with a little water.

Helpful 20 Not Helpful Helpful 16 Not Helpful Don't drop on the couch, deck, or sidewalk. It's hard to get off of certain surfaces. Helpful 15 Not Helpful Helpful 14 Not Helpful Related wikiHows How to. How to. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: August 30, Categories: Putty Dough and Slime.

Article Summary X To make Oobleck, mix 2 parts cornstarch and 1 part water in a bowl. Deutsch: Oobleck zubereiten. Italiano: Fare l'Oobleck.

Bahasa Indonesia: Membuat Oobleck. Nederlands: Oobleck maken. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,, times. I also brought figures for them to sink into the oobleck. Rated this article:. More reader stories Hide reader stories. Did this article help you? Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. LynnDell Watson Mar 22, Hannah Spooler Mar 16, Thank you so muck wikiHow, you really helped me re-take control of my kids!

Anonymous Apr 12, If someone asked me how to make it, I would definitely suggest this. My brother also loved it, but had to throw it out. Gabrielle Inoc Sep 26, But when I read this, I was amazed.

They provided photos and some videos, which is very helpful when you are a visual learner. Carl Shain May 18, Share yours! If you run across a pool of it, it supports your weight, but if you stop in the middle, you'll sink like it's quicksand. Do you know how oobleck works? Oobleck is an example of a non-Newtonian fluid. A Newtonian fluid is one which maintains constant viscosity at any given temperature. Viscosity, in turn, is the property that allows liquids to flow.

A non-Newtonian fluid does not have a constant viscosity. In the case of oobleck, viscosity increases when you agitate the slime or apply pressure. Oobleck is a suspension of starch in water. The starch grains remain intact rather than dissolving, which is the key to the slime's interesting properties. When a sudden force is applied to oobleck, the starch grains rub against each other and lock into position.

The phenomenon is called shear thickening and it basically means particles in a dense suspension resist further compression in the direction of shear. When oobleck is at rest, the high surface tension of water causes water droplets to surround the starch granules. Water acts as a liquid cushion or lubricant, allowing the grains to flow freely. The sudden force pushes the water out of the suspension and jams the starch grains against each other. Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

Play around with it and find out how it acts differently from a normal liquid and a normal solid. Other, more familiar substances change states from solids to liquids to gases when we change the temperature, such as freezing water into ice or boiling it away into steam. But this simple mixture shows how changes in pressure, instead of temperature, can change the properties of some materials.

Background Applying pressure to the mixture increases its viscosity thickness. A quick tap on the surface of Oobleck will make it feel hard, because it forces the cornstarch particles together. But dip your hand slowly into the mix, and see what happens—your fingers slide in as easily as through water. Moving slowly gives the cornstarch particles time to move out of the way.

Oobleck and other pressure-dependent substances such as Silly Putty and quicksand are not liquids such as water or oil. They are known as non-Newtonian fluids. This substance's funny name comes from a Dr. Seuss book called Bartholomew and the Oobleck. Can you feel how smooth the powder is? It's made up of super-fine particles. Keep adding more water until the mixture becomes thick and hardens when you tap on it. Add more cornstarch if it gets too runny, and more water if it becomes too thick.

Be careful not to get it in your eyes, and wash your hands after handling the Oobleck. Drop your hands quickly into the Oobleck, then slowly lower your hands into it. Notice the difference!