How Do You Make Oobleck?
Oobleck is an easy to make substance that has some interesting physical properties. Oobleck is an example of a non-Newtonian fluid. Many common liquids like water and alcohol have a constant viscosity. But Oobleck can be liquid when held loosely in your hand, and can also act like a solid if hit more violently. Children have always enjoyed playing with goo from the minute they learned to eat by themselves, picking up food, and smashing it on the top of the highchair table, making a gooey mess. Making goo is great for rainy day play with the little ones. Especially when the bath is ready. The name Oobleck is borrowed from the Dr. Seuss book, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, which told a story about a similar substance. Dr. Seuss’s Oobleck was green. • Place 1.5-2 cups of corn starch into a bowl. • Stir in water. For the desired consistiency, use about 2 parts cornstarch to one part water 1 cup of water • Add a few drops of food coloring until you like the color.I prefer 5. • Add more water
Oobleck was the name given to a type of slime in a Dr. Seuss book that was capable of gumming up a whole kingdom. The oobleck the you can make for a science project isn’t gummy, but it does have interesting properties of both solids and liquids. It normally behaves like a liquid or jelly, but if you squeeze it in your hand, it will seem like a solid.Difficulty: EasyTime Required: 10-15 minutesHere’s How: • Mix 1 part water with 1.5 to 2 parts cornstarch. You may wish to start with one cup of water and one and a half cups of cornstarch, then work in more cornstarch if you want a more ‘solid’ oobleck. It will take about 10 minutes of mixing to get nice homogeneous oobleck. • Mix in a few drops of food coloring if you want colored oobleck.Tips: • Oobleck is a type of non-Newtonian fluid called a dilatant. • If you slowly lower your hand into oobleck, it will sink, but it is difficult to quickly remove your hand (without taking all the oobleck and its container with you). • If you squeeze
Anyone who’s read Dr. Suess’ book “Bartholomew and the Oobleck” knows that Oobleck is a green, goopy solution that’s not quite liquid and not quite putty. Technically, the stuff is known as a diltatant–a non-Newtonian substance that thickens with the increase of pressure–but fans of Bartholomew and his Oobleck know what really matters is that it’s just plain old fun! There are a couple of easy ways to make your own Oobleck. Make Oobleck with Borax and Glue Step 1 Measure 1/2 cup of water into a disposable plastic container. Add a few drops of green food coloring to create Oobleck that is the same color as Bartholomew’s goop. Step 2 Add 1/2 cup of white school glue into the water. Stir until the two are completely combined. Step 3 Mix 1/2 cup of water with 1/2 cup of liquid Borax in a different container. Borax is used for laundry and can be found with laundry detergent at your local grocery store or mass marketing chain. It comes in liquid and powder forms. If you can’t locate liquid
