Experiment Oobleck
Yesterday the topic of the day was the difference between solids and liquids. As class started we made a list of the characteristics that solids and liquids have. We came up with lists for each,
Liquids: Solids:
Watery Keeps Shape
Clear Hard to break
Scentless Max resistance
Minimum Resistance Dry
Wet
Later in class we made an experiment called oobleck. The whole concept of this was "what will happen if we mix both a solid with a liquid?" The materials used to create oobleck is simple, corn starch and water. First we had a bowl with water then, we added one spoonful of corn starch and mixed it. The texture of the first scoop was still a watery. Then we added a second spoonful of corn starch and it became a sticky texture. Finally the third and fourth scoop were very similar reactions, it became a thick and sticky texture.
Based on my findings it was really hard to determine if oobleck is a solid or liquid. The reason being is that when you pick up the oobleck it melts, like cheese in a hot pan. Once it melts onto a surface it becomes hard again, with a latexy texture on the top. If I had to choose I would say that oobleck is solid, even though you pick it up as a solid and it drips down like a liquid, it starts as a solid. I believe that the substance reacts to heat and heat is energy which makes it react to both heat and energy and thats what makes the oobleck melt. I also think that it could be a solid because for one after a while the oobleck becomes dry again as we've discovered 'dry' is one of the characteristics a solid carries. Also if you get a large amount of oobleck in your hand and slam it hard onto a table it again turns into a pile of corn stretch. The molecule level is probably at a high level when its picked up because of the heat and energy. I imagine that like gas reacting to air, heat and energy get the molecules to double and allow it to melt.