The best kind of science is the messy kind of science!

Ido not know about you, but I absolutely love making a mess when I do science. That is what is the most fun in my opinion! I am going to warn you that this week is going to be EXTREMELY MESSY. Cover your work area with a disposable tablecloth or some plastic and hurry, let’s get started!

*Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

• Cornstarch

• Water

• Measuring cups

• Measuring spoons

• Bowl

• Wooden spoon (or something to stir with)

• Food colouring (optional)

• Speaker playing music (preferably lots of bass)

• Plastic wrap

• Rubber bands

• Tape

• Disposable table cloth

Procedure

1. Make sure you cover the area you are going to work in with a disposable table cloth or work where it does not matter if it is going to get messy. Do not worry nothing will stain, it is just messy (and fun)!

2. Cover the speaker with plastic wrap and secure in place with a few rubber bands or some tape.

3. Measure 125 mL (1/2 cup) of water and pour it into the bowl.

4. Add 250 mL (one cup) of cornstarch.

5. Stir well. It may be easier to stir with your hands (not to mention more fun too!).

6. At this point you can add a few drops of food colouring if you wish, but it is not necessary.

7. When you are stirring the mixture up, stop for a minute and push your finger in and pull it out.

8. Make your observations.

9. What happens?

10. Place the speaker so the mesh is facing up.

11. Carefully pour a small amount of your mixture onto the speaker.

12. Observe.

What is going on?

This is really is one of my favorite “slime” recipes to make. In this experiment you made a non-Newtonian fluid often referred to as Oobleck. WOW — what is that you might ask? Well, a nonNewtonian fluid is unique in that it has properties of both a liquid and a solid.

When you pick up and squeeze the mixture it should be a solid BUT if you open up your hand with it full of the mixture, it will slowly ooze out between your fingers.

When you poured it onto the speaker, you should have seen it dance up and about. The pressure from the sound waves causes the Oobleck to thicken as it bounces up and down. Pretty fun, right!?

Patty Rooks, senior scientific consultant PRAXIS,

“Connecting Science To The Community.” Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, www. praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Address: 12 826 11th Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403-527-5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca.