oobleck science experiment video

• 1 package of corn stach, about 400 g (14 oz)
• 1 large bowl

Short explanation

Long explanation.

• What happens if you hit the oobleck?
• What happens if you squeeze the oobleck hard and then release it?
• What happens if you slowly lower your hand into the oobleck and then quickly try to pull it back?
• What happens if you try to bounce a ball on the surface?
• What happens if you pour the mixture and then cut the resulting "string" with a pair of scissors?
• What happens if you try to swing the bowl back and forth?
• What happens if you leave a glass of oobleck for a long time?
• What happens if you change the amount of water in the mix?
• What happens if you use some other liquid instead of water, such as milk or soda?
• What happens if you use some other powder, such as potato starch or wheat flour?

Disappearing styrofoam

Rainbow milk

Homemade yogurt

Screaming dry ice

Dry ice in a balloon

Special: Dry ice color change

Dry ice smoking soap bubble snake

Dry ice giant crystal ball bubble

Dry ice in water

Gummy bear osmosis

Floating ping pong ball

Rotating Earth

Special: Colored fire

Special: Fire bubbles

Water cycle in a jar

Egg drop challenge

Taking the pulse

Orange candle

Glass bottle xylophone

Warped spacetime

Homemade rainbow

Water implosion

Warm and cold plates

Plastic bag kite

Tamed lightning

Yeast and a balloon

Forever boiling bottle

Moon on a pen

Moon in a box

Inexhaustible bottle

Crystal egg geode

Magic ice cut

Leaf pigments chromatography

Heavy smoke

Popsicle stick bridge

Micrometeorites

Special: Fire tornado

Special: Whoosh bottle

Dancing water marbles

Brownian motion

Flying static ring

Water thermometer

String telephone

Special: Dust explosion

Special: Burning money

Special: Burning towel

Salt water purifier

Fish dissection

Hovering soap bubble

Homemade sailboat

Water mass meeting

Plastic bag and pencils

Water sucking bottle

Water sucking glass

Mentos and coke

Aristotle's illusion

Spinning spiral snake

Imploding soda can

Carbon dioxide extuingisher

Plastic bag parachute

Dental impression

Impact craters

Rolling static soda can

Static paper ghost

Color changing flower

Upside down glass

Shrinking chip bag

Solar system model

Strawberry DNA

Electric motor

Flashy electric motor

Bouncing soap bubbles

Toilet paper roll maraca

Cloud in a bottle 1

Cloud in a bottle 2

Balloon rocket

Water whistle

Special: Screaming gummy bear

Homemade compass

Trash airplane

Wind-up spinner toy

Tea bag rocket

Balancing soda can

Lung volume test

Fireproof balloon

Baking powder popper

Expanding space

Straw propeller

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Human reflexes

Electromagnet

Soil layers

Straw potato

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Traveling flame

Water bowls

Straw duck call

Solar eclipse

Silo of salt

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Newspaper tower

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Heavy paper

Rubber chicken bone

Homemade marble run

Drops on a coin

Cartesian diver

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How to Make Oobleck

Do you know how to make oobleck or even what, exactly, it is? Oobleck is the name of a non-Newtonian fluid made by mixing corn starch and water. It has the name “oobleck” because it resembles the green stuff called oobleck in the Dr. Seuss book, “Bartholomew and the Oobleck.”

In the story, the King wants a replacement for rain and snow. The Royal Magicians produce oobleck, a green gelatinous substance that entraps objects and people. Bartholomew saves the day by getting the King to take back his wish, returning the weather to normal.

The oobleck you make is not exactly magical, but it does display interesting properties. Here is how to make it and a look at how it works.

Non-Newtonian Fluids

A non-Newtonian fluid is one that experiences viscosity changes, depending on mechanical conditions. In other words, sometimes it flows like a liquid and other times it does not flow, like a solid . In contrast, a Newtonian fluid maintains pretty much the same viscosity, no matter what you do to it.

There are different types of non-Newtonian fluids. For example, slime is a non-Newtonian fluid that flows under low stress, but breaks under pressure. Ketchup is a non-Newtonian fluid that is a shear-thinning fluid. It does not easily flow, but if you tap or shake a ketchup bottle, its contents suddenly change to a lower viscosity and pour out.

Oobleck is a type of non-Newtonian fluid called a dilatant. A dilatant is a shear-thickening fluid (the opposite of ketchup). Applying shear stress by punching or squeezing instantly thickens oobleck, so it acts like a solid. Releasing stress lets oobleck flow, like a liquid. For example, oobleck supports your weight if you run across a layer of it. But, you sink into it if you walk slowly.

Oobleck is simple to make, inexpensive, non-toxic, and uses familiar ingredients:

• 1 ½ -2 cups corn starch
• 1 cup water
• food coloring (optional)
• Make any amount of oobleck using 1.5 to 2 parts corn starch to 1 part water. For example, mix together 2 cups of corn starch and 1 cup of water.
• Add food coloring, if desired. The color of oobleck in the Dr. Seuss story is green.

Unlike slime, oobleck is not sticky. All you need for clean-up is water, unless you use food coloring. Re-use the oobleck as much as you like. When it dries out, just add a bit more water. If it’s too wet, add more corn starch.

Fun Oobleck Activities

Explore the interesting properties of oobleck:

• Play with a bowl of oobleck. Watch it ooze through your fingers. Squeeze it and feel how it changes consistency.
• Draw shapes in the oobleck. How long do they last? Does it matter how quickly you draw?
• Pour a large batch in a metal or plastic bin. Walk through it. See how long it holds you up if you stomp on it.
• Seal oobleck in a zip-top plastic bag. Compare what happens when you slowly squeeze it to its behavior when you shake it or drop it.
• Place a dish of oobleck on top of a subwoofer. Play low frequency sounds at high volume and see the forms the oobleck takes.

How Oobleck Works

Oobleck acts the way it does because of the way corn starch and water mix together. They form a colloidal mixture , with large starch grains surrounded by water. At rest, the high surface tension of water forms lubricating droplets around the granules of corn starch. The cushion of water permits flow. Compressing the mixture forces the starch together and locks them in position. So, under shear stress, oobleck behaves more like a crystal.

• Chhabra, R.P. (2006). Bubbles, Drops, and Particles in Non-Newtonian Fluids (2nd ed.). Hoboken: Taylor & Francis Ltd. ISBN 978-1420015386.
• Dr. Seuss (1949). Bartholomew and the Oobleck . Random House Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-0394900759.
• Rupp, Rebecca (1998). “Magic Mud and Other Great Experiments”. The Complete Home Learning Source Book . ISBN 9780609801093.
• Tropea, Cameron; Yarin, Alexander L.; Foss, John F. (2007). Springer Handbook of Experimental Fluid Mechanics . Springer. ISBN 978-3-540-25141-5.

Related Posts

Oobleck Science Fair Project

Oobleck is a fascinating substance that makes an exceptional choice for a science fair project, especially when you consider that there are so many recipe variations to explore. In this science fair project we test a number of ingredients and recipes to see which one makes the best oobleck, and you will be surprised by our results!

What you will discover in this article!

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We love a good science fair project. It makes a great learning experience where we can dive deep and explore some fascinating scientific principles. Oobleck is one of our favourite things to study at the moment.

We have already done two really fun science investigations using oobleck:

1 – We created a colour changing oobleck recipe .

2 – we created a glow in the dark oobleck recipe with two types of glow ..

This time we decided to go back to basics and examine our oobleck recipe. Our goal is to see what other ingredients will work in the creation of non-Newtonian fluid and judge the properties of each one to see if any one ingredient is superior and would result in the perfect oobleck recipe.

To do this, we needed to apply the Scientific Method .

For this investigation we have two variables, the liquid and the solid. We decided to keep our liquid the same and use water (with food colouring so we can keep track of which oobleck was made with which ingredient) for each batch. We already explored making oobleck recipes with liquid other than plain water in our previous two investigations.

The variable we are changing (and studying in this project) is the solid. Our plan was to start with the same 2:1 ratio recipe and alter as needed to create a non-Newtonian Fluid (if possible). Then we would explore and test each batch to see how the properties of each one varied.

But before we dive into the experiment, first we need to understand the science of Oobleck, also known as magic mud, goop, oobleck slime, and of course to our science minded folks, a non-Newtonian Fluid.

Non-Newtonian Fluids

Understanding newton’s law of viscosity.

Isaac Newton had a number of theories around fluid dynamics. With oobleck we have a non-Newtonian fluid because it doesn’t follow Newton’s Law of Viscosity which states: the shear stress between adjacent fluid layers is proportional to the negative value of the velocity gradient between the two layers.

Well, I’m sure that makes everything as clear as our magic mud.

So let’s dig into this science a bit and see if we can make some sense of it. This is important stuff if you are presenting a science fair project!

The behaviour of a fluid while flowing is affected by two key properties of the fluid: density and viscosity.

Density is the mass of an object divided by it’s volume. It is the reason ice floats in your drink, ice is less dense than your drink. Or why oil floats on water. Again oil is less dense than water. Lighter fluids will float on heavier fluids. We tested this in our Lollipop Layers experiment .

Viscosity is a fluid’s resistance level when flowing. Think of how water flows compared to molasses. Molasses has much higher viscosity. A simple experiment to demonstrate viscosity is to compare how clean water flows compared to water filled with dirt (aka mud). Mud has much higher viscosity than clean water.

So when we are looking at Newton’s Law of Viscosity we are discussing how fluids react due to the friction created between the molecules when flowing. If there is a lot of friction, it is a thicker liquid and has a higher viscosity.

So Newtonian fluids follow this law of viscosity and flow predictably.

Then there is our beloved Oobleck, a non-Newtonian fluid, that breaks all the rules Sir Isaac Newton so carefully crafted and proposed.

States of Matter – Is Oobleck A Solid or A Liquid? 

If you have ever played with oobleck you know it doesn’t behave the way you would expect at all. When you apply force to oobleck it becomes a solid. You can actually walk on it, or mold it like play dough, as long as you keep the force up. In fact it becomes so solid and hard that I actually broke a finger nail on oobleck while doing this investigation!

But then something a little magical happens. As soon as you release the force and pressure, it turns into a flowing liquid. If you are walking on it and stop, you will sink. If you are squishing it like play dough and relax your hand, it will flow through your fingers.

This phenomenon is called “shear thickening” and it occurs in materials made up of microscopic solid particles suspended in a fluid. Oobleck therefore is a suspension. The solid molecules are not dissolving in the liquid, they are simply suspended. When you make oobleck you will see it quickly separates. The suspended molecules settle to the bottom and the liquid rises to the top of the container. Want to know more about the study of shear thickening? Check out this article.

Pro Tip! If you have kids that need some finger strengthening exercises, give them a batch of oobleck with some items hidden in it . It will give them a great finger workout! It is also a great way to work on “gentle” fingers, because the harder you push, the more solid oobleck becomes. Gentle fingers and pressure are the key to working your way through Oobleck. 

How Did Oobleck Get Its Name?

Although this non-Newtonian Fluid goes by many names, including magic mud, goo, goop, or the most common name is Oobleck or Oobleck Slime. Some people spell it oblec or ooblek but the correct spelling is actually oobleck. But where did the term “oobleck” come from? In fact it was created by none other than Dr. Seuss.

Back in 1949 there was a book called Bartholomew and the Oobleck . It is a story about a king who was bored with the weather and asked his team of magicians to create something new to entertain him. The result was this gloopy, sloppy, sticky substance that rained down from the sky on the unsuspecting villagers. A substance that had a lot of properties in common with our beloved non-Newtonian Fluid. It may not have been intentional, but it is a fantastic story of how this magical substance got it’s name.

So now we know a bit about the history of Oobleck and how Oobleck works, it’s time for some science!

Oobleck Scientific Method

Our goal with this study was to explore different recipe variations for oobleck to see what works and if there was a difference in the resulting oobleck. And we were really surprised by the results! Our hypothesis was that Baby Powder and Potato starch would make oobleck, we were not sure if the other ones would work, but we predicted if one “flour” worked, they all would and that there would be little difference in the properties of the resulting ooblecks.

We kept our procedure quite simple, we made a LOT of oobleck and played with a LOT of oobleck.

For this investigation we have two variables, the liquid and the solid. We decided to keep our liquid the same and use water (with food colouring) for each batch. This makes it our controlled variable. We used food colouring so we didn’t get confused about what ingredient each oobleck was made with.

Our independent variable, or the one we are changing, is the solid. Our plan was to start with the same 2:1 ratio recipe (2 cups solid, 1 cup water) and alter as needed to create a non-Newtonian Fluid (if possible). Then we would explore and test each batch to see how the properties of each one varied.

Our outcomes would be measured based on a successful non-Newtonian Fluid result (solid under pressure, liquid without pressure). We would also do some observations to see if there is any variations in the properties of the oobleck when made with different solids.

The solids we tested were:

Cornstarch Baby Powder (corn starch base, not talc) Flour (baking) Baking Soda Arrowroot Flour (starch) Tapioca Flour (starch) Potato Starch

Oobleck Recipe Ingredient Testing Results

Check out our video comparing all the different recipes that created oobleck!

This is the standard recipe ingredient for oobleck that we have always used in the past. It was used as our basic recipe to which all other recipes were compared. You can get more details on our cornstarch oobleck here .

Baby Powder

Click here for a look at our Baby Powder Oobleck in detail. We discovered that baby powder made an oobleck very similar to our regular corn starch. There are two types of baby powder – one uses talc and one uses corn starch. Talc is not used as often now due to some health issues discovered with it. If you try this experiment, check to see if your baby powder is a corn starch base. If it is, it will make oobleck comparable to our regular oobleck recipe. This one just smells like a baby bum.

For this test we used regular baking flour made from wheat. And it didn’t work. There was no non-Newtonian action at all. I am actually surprised at this (due to our other results) and had to go do more research to understand this result. More on this in a moment in our conclusion and results.

Baking Soda

Using baking soda to make oobleck in the place of corn starch did not work. It simply became a paste. However, if you want to use baking soda in a fascinating oobleck experiment, check out our colour changing oobleck .

Or we have another fun colour changing Oobleck experiment using thermochromatic pigments here . This project will really heat up your Oobleck investigations!

Arrowroot Flour

Click here for a look at our Arrowroot Flour Oobleck in detail. Arrowroot flour is also known as Arrowroot Starch. This was an interesting result. I was able to make non-Newtonian fluid, but it required different ratios. I had to really decrease the water. For 2 1/4 cups of arrowroot flour, I added only 2/3 cup of water to create our arrowroot flour oobleck recipe. The resulting oobleck had some slightly different properties from our regular oobleck too. It REALLY responded to pressure. Which means it became clumpy and hard very easily. Even when “flowing” when we released the pressure, it would form clumps and lumps as it fell. Far more than our cornstarch oobleck recipe.

Tapioca Flour

Click here for a look at our Tapioca Flour Oobleck in detail. Again, Tapioca Flour is also known as Tapioca Starch. It had similar results to Arrowroot. Once again we had to change our ratios and create a different recipe. We used 2 1/4 cups of Arrowroot Flour and 1 cup of water. Tapicoca Flour Oobleck also had some interesting properties. It became very hard when solid. I actually broke a nail while trying to scoop some up. It almost feels dry and crumbly when under pressure and solid, but when the pressure was released it still flowed.

Potato Starch

Click here for a look at our Potato Starch Oobleck in detail. This time we were able to successfully make oobleck from potato starch using our standard ratio – 2 cups of potato starch to 1 cup of water. It made a wonderful oobleck, but there was a striking difference. Potato starch oobleck is incredibly silky and smooth. It lacks the sticky, goopiness of the other recipes. It is very luxurious to play with, and honestly very hard to stop playing with. The texture is simply incredible.

Our Oobleck Recipe Investigation Conclusion

When it comes to making oobleck there are actually many recipe ingredient options. We did have one result that surprised me though. My initial research showed that wheat flour has similar properties to cornstarch, arrowroot flour, tapioca flour and potato starch. So our hypothesis was that flour would give a similar result to our other “flours.” But it didn’t. It simply formed a paste.

However, after seeing our results I did more research (it may be similar from a cooking perspective but obviously from a science perspective there are differences!) and I believe marketing and branding/naming may be where things got confusing here. Grain flour is milled and starch is part of flour, but through other processes you can extract pure starch. Pure starch interacts with water differently (hence our non-Newtonian fluid) than flour. So although our bags were labelled as Arrowroot flour and Tapioca Flour, I believe they are truly pure starches.

How To Make Oobleck Without Cornstarch

So based on our study, if you want to make oobleck without cornstarch you have a few viable ingredient options for your oobleck recipe. You can use Baby Powder (the type with a corn starch base), Tapioca Flour (Starch), Arrowroot Flour (Starch) or Potato Starch.

What Is The Best Oobleck Recipe? 

Without a single doubt, nothing came close to the potato starch oobleck recipe . The texture is silky luxury, yet it still has the fascinating non-Newtonian Fluid properties we love in Oobleck. The combination just begs to be played with, creating an irresistible substance everyone will just want to get their fingers into.

Is Oobleck Toxic? Can you eat it?

Oobleck is absolutely not toxic. In all of the recipes we tested, we used ingredients from the pantry (with the exception of baby powder), and as such is taste safe and technically you could eat it, but why would you want to? I really don’t know. But if your little one is playing and licks their fingers, you don’t have to worry.

Tips For Using, Storing and Disposing of Oobleck

Just a reminder that Oobleck is a suspension, which means the molecules will separate form the liquid as it sits and fall to the bottom of the container (with the liquid floating on top). You can just mix it up again before playing.

If you want to save your oobleck for a day or so, make sure it is kept in an airtight container.

Similar to slime and other hands on sensory items, I don’t recommend keeping these for long periods of time. Especially if you have multiple kids playing with it. These mediums are great breeding grounds for bacteria and other nasties. So make it, play with it, and toss it. Then simply make a new batch next time you want to play. Safety always comes first and I prefer to err on the side of caution when it comes to these inexpensive sensory experiences. Especially when they are so quick and easy to make.

As water evaporates from the solution it will dry out and eventually return to powder form. This is actually really good information to know to help with clean up! Simply let it dry out and sweep it up.

Or if you want to play with your oobleck again, simply add water.

When disposing of oobleck, scrape it into the garbage. Do not wash it all down the drain. You will end up with a big plumbing bill. The bits that do go down the drain, make sure they are flushed with lots of water.

Remember, oobleck is non-toxic and taste safe. However I really don’t think it would taste very good!

Oobleck Learning Centre

Oobleck learning centers can be an amazing classroom project! We developed a fun How to Make Oobleck Break Out Box project inspired by this Oobleck Science Fair investigation. It will have your students working in pairs or small groups, using their critical thinking skills and exploring the properties of Oobleck. Worksheets are included in this fun sensory science project for your next science experiment or science center activity.

Happy ooblecking!

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Oobleck – the cornstarch and water experiment.

This may just be the easiest, messiest, and most fun science activity I know. It is a classic, and I have gotten several requests recently to post directions. You should know that if you try this activity and  you are not smiling and messy with corn starch goo at the end, then you are definitely doing something wrong. Also keep in mind that this is not just about fun, there is some pretty amazing science going on here.

You will need:

• Cornstarch (a 16 oz. box is good for every 2-3 participants – but more is always better)
• Food coloring (we always say it’s optional, but it does make it more fun – don’t use too much or you could end up with colored hands…and clothes…and curtains)
• A large bowl
• A camera – you’re probably going to want to take pictures.

Everyone should roll up their sleeves and prepare for some gooey fun.

• This is easy. Pour the cornstarch into the bowl. Don’t rush to add water – take time to feel the cornstarch. Cornstarch does not feel like any other powder. It has a texture that can be compared to that of whipped cream. The grains of cornstarch are so small that they will fill into grooves of your fingerprints and make the prints stand out.
• After you’ve taken-in the feel of the powder, it is time to add water. (You should add the food coloring to your water before adding it to the powder.) There are no exact formulas regarding how much water to add, but it will end up being about 1/2 cup (120 ml) of water per cup (235 ml) of cornstarch. The secret is to add the water slowly and mix as you add it. Don’t be shy here – dig in with your hands and really mix it up. This is usually when you notice that this is not your average liquid. Add enough water so that the mixture slowly flows on its own when mixed. The best test is to reach in and grab a handful of the mixture and see if you can roll it into a ball between your hands – if you stop rolling it and it “melts” between your fingers – success!

We’ll get the the science soon, for now just dig in and explore. Notice that the goo does not splash (or even move) if you hit it quickly. Squeeze it hard and see what happens. How long can you get the strands of goo to drip? What happens if you let the goo sit on the table for a minute and then try to pick it up? How does it feel? Hows does it move? Try bouncing a ball on the surface of the cornstarch. You get the idea – explore!

30 minutes later…

So now goo is everywhere and you’re thinking you should probably start cleaning. Actual clean up of the goo is a snap. A bucket of warm water will quickly get it off your hands. It will brush off of clothes when it dries, and it is easily cleaned off surfaces with a wet rag.

Important : Make sure you do not dump the goo down the drain – it can get caught in the drain trap and take the joy out of your day of science. Dump it in the trash, or even mix it into soil in the garden.

Now for the science… Our cornstarch goo (sometimes referred to as “oobleck” from the Dr. Suess book) is what scientists call a “Non-Newtonian” liquid. Basically, Sir Issac Newton stated individual liquids flow at consistent, predictable rates. As you likely discovered, cornstarch goo does NOT follow those rules – it can act almost like a solid, and them flow like a liquid. Technically speaking, the goo is a SUSPENSION, meaning that the grains of starch are not dissolved, they are just suspended and spread out in the water. If you let the goo sit for an while, the cornstarch would settle to the bottom of the bowl.

So why does this concoction act the way it does? Most of it has to do with pressure. The size, shape, and makeup of the cornstarch grains causes the cornstarch to “lock-up” and hold its shape when pressure is applied to it. People have filled small pools with oobleck and they are able to walk across the surface of it (as long as they move quickly.) As soon as they stop walking, they begin to sink.

I hope you get to try this out. Let us know how your day with non-newtonian liquids went.  Have fun exploring!

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How To Make Oobleck

Are you wondering how to make oobleck? Oobleck is a classic science experiment that perfectly demonstrates a non-Newtonian fluid! Is it a liquid or a solid?

How to Make Oobleck: Easy Oobleck Recipe

Oobleck recipe video:, oobleck ingredients:.

• 2 cups cornstarch or corn flour
• 1 cup water
• Food Coloring (optional)
• Small Plastic Figurines or Items (optional)
• Baking Dish, Spoon

Instructions:

STEP 1: Add the cornstarch to your bowl or baking dish. Mix two parts cornstarch with one part water.

Note: Mixing the oobleck in a bowl and then transferring it to a baking dish or tray may be easier.

STEP 2:  Add the water to the cornstarch. If you want to give your oobleck a color such as green, add food coloring to your water first. If you want to add swirls of food coloring after you mix the oobleck, you can also do that.

NOTE: Remember that you have a lot of white cornstarch, so you will need a good amount of food coloring if you want a more vibrant color.

STEP 3:  MIx! You can stir your oobleck with a spoon, but I guarantee you will need to get your hands in there at some point during the mixing process.

STORING OOBLECK: You can store your oobleck in an airtight container, but I would not use it for longer than a day or two and check for mold before using it. If it has dried out some, add a very tiny amount of water to rehydrate it, but just a very tiny bit. A little goes a long way!

DISPOSING OF OOBLECK : When you’re done enjoying your oobleck, the best option is to scrape most of the mixture into the trash. The thick substance may be too much for your sink drain to handle!

Is Oobleck a Solid or a Liquid?

Oobleck is a fantastic, fun, simple, and quick science lesson for kids of all ages. Even your youngest scientist will be amazed by it. What state of matter is oobleck? Here we combine a liquid and a solid, but the mixture doesn’t become one or the other.

A solid has its shape, whereas a liquid will take the shape of the container. Oobleck is a bit of both! Learn more about states of matter here.

A non-Newtonian fluid , like oobleck, behaves neither like a liquid nor a solid but shares both properties. Its viscosity, or thickness, changes when force is applied or removed. You can pick up a clump of the substance like a solid, but it will ooze back into the bowl like a liquid. It feels firm and solid to the touch, but applying more pressure causes your fingers to sink into it like a liquid.

Also, check out our Electroactive Oobleck … It’s electric!

Is Oobleck a solid?

A solid does not need a container to keep its shape like a rock.

Or is Oobleck a liquid?

A liquid takes the shape of any container or flows freely if not put in a container.

Oobleck Recipe Variations

Grab this free jr. scientist challenge calendar with clickable links.

More Ways To Experiment With Oobleck

This oobleck experiment helps kids develop scientific inquiry skills and understand the basic principles of materials and their properties by introducing variables and encouraging them to make comparisons and predictions.

Start by making a standard batch of oobleck using a specific ratio of cornstarch to water. This will be the “control” oobleck for the experiment.

Variable 1: Changing Ratios

Prepare additional batches of oobleck with different ratios of cornstarch to water. For example, make one with more cornstarch and less water and another with more and less.

Encourage kids to observe and compare the properties of each batch. Does changing the ratio affect the oobleck’s behavior? Is it more liquid-like or solid-like?

Variable 2: Adding Objects

Place different objects in the oobleck (e.g., small toys, plastic shapes, coins). Observe how the oobleck interacts with these objects.

Ask kids to predict whether certain objects will sink or float in the oobleck. Record their predictions and compare them to the actual outcomes.

Variable 3: Temperature Experiment

Prepare two batches of oobleck, one using cold water and another using warm water. Discuss the impact of temperature on the oobleck’s properties.

Observe if there are differences in how the oobleck behaves at different temperatures. Does it change its consistency or flow differently?

💡 EXTRA: Try freezing oobleck!

Variable 4: Time Experiment

Set up a timed experiment to observe changes in the oobleck over time. After applying pressure, measure how long it takes for the oobleck to revert from a solid to a liquid state.

Discuss the viscosity concept and how it relates to the time it takes for the oobleck to return to a liquid state.

Record Observations: Have kids record their observations, predictions, and conclusions in a simple scientific journal. Please encourage them to use drawings, words, and measurements.

Discussion: Conclude the experiment by discussing the results. Ask questions about what they observed and if their predictions were accurate. Discuss the scientific concepts behind the changes in Oobleck’s properties.

Simple Science Experiments For Kids

If your preschooler through middle schooler is looking for simpler science activities like oobleck, this home science experiment list is a great place to start!

Printable Science Projects For Kids

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
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• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
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Love this amazing oobleck recipe. Look so delicious and yummy. Thank you for sharing it.

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38 Oobleck Experiments

Brian N. Siegelwax

Having Fun With Everyone’s Favorite Non-Newtonian Fluid

I had never heard of oobleck, not even from Dr. Seuss, until I bought a chemistry book for my pre-teen that mentioned the sometimes-liquid and sometimes-solid properties of a mixture of cornstarch and water. We learned together, during homeschooling, that this is one type of non-Newtonian fluid, which is to say a fluid that does not…

Written by Brian N. Siegelwax

Independent Quantum Algorithm Designer https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-siegelwax https://twitter.com/BSiegelwax?s=09 https://github.com/bsiegelwax

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