Make Your Own Oobleck

Oobleck? What is that?! Learn about this funky non-Newtonian fluid in today’s experiment!

Materials:

Two cups of cornstarch, one cup of warm water, food coloring (optional), sparkles (optional), big bowl, spoon

Time Estimated:

10-15 minutes

Directions:

  1. Oobleck is fun, but messy. Be careful not to stain clothes or fabrics and cover your experiment table with newspaper!

  2. Add your favorite color food coloring to water.

  3. Add cornstarch and mix slowly with spoon.

  4. Watch as the oobleck seems like a solid when you push on it but seems like a liquid when your pick it up!

  5. Throw the oobleck away when done (don’t put in sink!!)

Think Like A Scientist:

  1. What happens when you add more cornstarch? When you add more water? How and why does adding more of one ingredient change the resulting oobleck? Comment what you find out below!

  2. What are some differences between solids and liquids, and how does oobleck demonstrate these differences? 

  3. Oobleck can also be made with substitutes for cornstarch, like flour, baking soda, and lots of other things. Try the experiment with these other ingredients-- how does the result change? Comment the best and worst material you find below!

Explanation of Science:

You just made a non-newtonian fluid! This means that your Oobleck acts like a liquid in its natural state, but when pressure or force is applied to it, it acts like a solid instead! Woah! A liquid and a solid together! The scientific definition of non-newtonian fluid is that they are fluids that “change their viscosity or flow behavior under stress.”

Can you think of other examples of non-newtonian fluids? What about toothpaste, ketchup, and quicksand! All of these fluids (as well as oobleck) change their viscosity when stress, or force, is applied to them. 

  • In this experiment, pressure and force are applied when you do things like touch, squeeze, and pick up the oobleck. 

  • Viscosity is essentially how well a fluid is able to flow, and how thick and fluid it is. 

Looking for more fun at home STEM activities for your young scientist? Check out our workbook full of exciting science experiments and empowering activities! 

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