Oobleck is a super cool substance made from just cornstarch and water. The science behind how it works has to do with something called “non-Newtonian fluids.” Here’s the gist of it:
A “fluid” is something that can flow, like water or syrup. Most fluids, like water, are called “Newtonian fluids” because they follow rules discovered by a scientist named Sir Isaac Newton. These rules say that a fluid’s thickness, or “viscosity,” stays the same, no matter how much force you put on it.
However, oobleck is different! It’s a “non-Newtonian fluid” because it doesn’t follow those rules. Its viscosity changes depending on how much force you apply to it. When you gently touch or pour oobleck, it behaves like a liquid and flows smoothly. But when you apply more force, like squeezing or hitting it, it becomes thicker and acts like a solid.
Our little ones were eager to help out with the making of Oobleck and you can enjoy their narration on how it all went.