maizena experiment

May 2, 2011

It's a Solid... It's a Liquid... It's Oobleck!

Bring Science Home: Activity 1

By Katherine Harmon

Getty Images

Key concepts Liquids and solids Viscosity Pressure From National Science Education Standards : Properties of objects and materials

Introduction Why is it so hard to get out of quicksand? Is it a solid? Is it a liquid? Can it be both? In this activity, you will make a substance that is similar to quicksand—but much more fun. Play around with it and find out how it acts differently from a normal liquid and a normal solid. Other, more familiar substances change states (from solids to liquids to gases) when we change the temperature, such as freezing water into ice or boiling it away into steam. But this simple mixture shows how changes in pressure, instead of temperature, can change the properties of some materials. Background Applying pressure to the mixture increases its viscosity (thickness). A quick tap on the surface of Oobleck will make it feel hard, because it forces the cornstarch particles together. But dip your hand slowly into the mix, and see what happens—your fingers slide in as easily as through water. Moving slowly gives the cornstarch particles time to move out of the way. Oobleck and other pressure-dependent substances (such as Silly Putty and quicksand) are not liquids such as water or oil. They are known as non-Newtonian fluids. This substance's funny name comes from a Dr. Seuss book called Bartholomew and the Oobleck .

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing . By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Materials •    1 cup of water •    1 to 2 cups of cornstarch •    Mixing bowl •    Food coloring (optional) Preparation •    Pour one cup of cornstarch into the mixing bowl, and dip your hands into it. Can you feel how smooth the powder is? It's made up of super-fine particles. •    Now pour the water in, mixing slowly as you go. Keep adding more water until the mixture becomes thick (and hardens when you tap on it). Add more cornstarch if it gets too runny, and more water if it becomes too thick. •    Add a few drops of food coloring if desired. (If you want to turn your Oobleck another hue, it’s easier to add the coloring to the water before you mix it with the cornstarch.) •    Oobleck is non-toxic, but please use caution when doing any science activity. Be careful not to get it in your eyes, and wash your hands after handling the Oobleck. Procedure •    Roll up your sleeves and prepare to get messy! Drop your hands quickly into the Oobleck, then slowly lower your hands into it. Notice the difference! •    Hold a handful in your open palm— what happens? •    Try squeezing it in your fist or rolling it between your hands— how does it behave differently? •    Move your fingers through the mixture slowly, then try moving them faster. •    What else can you do to test the mixture's properties? •    Extra: If you have a large plastic bin or tub, you can make a big batch of Oobleck. Multiply the quantity of each ingredient by 10 or more and mix it up. Take off your shoes and socks and try standing in the Oobleck! Can you walk across it without sinking in? Let you feet sink down and then try wiggling your toes. What happens?

Read on for observations, results and more resources.

Observations and results What is happening when you squeeze the Oobleck? What is happening when you release the pressure? Does the Oobleck remind you of anything else? The Oobleck mixture isn't your typical liquid—or solid. The cornstarch-and-water mixture creates a fluid that acts more like quicksand than water: applying force (squeezing or tapping it) causes it to become thicker. If you were trapped in a tub of Oobleck, what would be the best way to escape? Share your Oobleck observations and results! Leave a comment below or share your photos and feedback on Scientific American 's Facebook page . Cleanup Wash hands with water. Add plenty of extra water to the mixture before pouring it down the drain. Wipe up any dried cornstarch with a dry cloth before cleaning up any remaining residue with a damp sponge. More to explore " What is Jell-O? " from Scientific American " Ask the Experts: What Is Quicksand? " from Scientific American " States of Matter " overview from Idaho Public Television's Dialogue for Kids Slime and Goo activities from the American Chemical Society's Science for Kids Oobleck, Slime & Dancing Spaghetti: Twenty terrific at-home science experiments inspired by favorite children's books by Jennifer Williams, ages 4–8 The Everything Kids' Easy Science Experiments Book: Explore the world of science through quick and easy experiments! By J. Elizabeth Mills, ages 9–12 Up next… The Magic of Gravity What you'll need •    Coin •    Bottle, jar or canister with a small top opening (larger—but not too much bigger—than the coin) •    3- by-5-inch note card or other sturdy piece of paper •    Scissors •    Tape •    Pen or pencil •    Water (optional)

Cornstarch and Water Experiment for Kids

Hi everyone! I’m Stephanie from SomewhatSimple.com and I am excited to be here for “Science Week” with The Crafting Chicks. I have a super fun activity that I remember doing waayyyy back in grade school that is both fun and educational. Have you done the cornstarch and water experiment?

This experiment will teach your kids a little about the States of Matter and non-Newtonian fluids. Is it a liquid or solid? Let THEM decide! Pick it up like a solid, but watch it run through your fingers like a liquid – it is unlike anything you’ve felt before! This experiment can be a bit messy, but couldn’t be easier to create and it will provide an entire afternoon of fun!

Here is a video my kids and I made, but keep reading for detailed directions and scientific applications:

Cornstarch and Water Experiment

What You Need:

• Cornstarch (about 1 cups)
• Water (about 1/2 cup)
• Bowl or Pan

You Might Also Need…

• Newspaper (to cover your experiment area)
• Food Coloring (if you want to make it colorful)
• Small plastic toy

Classroom Application:

You can use this experiment in conjunction with the Dr. Suess book “Bartholomew and the Oobleck” . Just add some green food coloring to your mixture and have fun!

Directions:

• Mix the cornstarch with water in your bowl. Add more or less of each ingredient until you get the consistency of honey.
• Tap the surface with a spoon- does it splash?
• Grab a handful and watch it slip through your fingers.
• Grab another handful and squeeze it. Does it slip through?
• Let your fingers slip slowly down to the bottom of the bowl. Try to pull them out fast!
• Grab a handful and roll it in your hands to make a ball. Stop rolling and watch what happens!
• Place a small plastic toy on the surface- does it sink?
• Stir the mixture slowly with your finger- do you feel resistance?
• Now, stir the mixture quickly with your finger- do you feel resistance now?

Explanation:

In the 1700’s, Isaac Newton identified the properties of a liquid. Water, juice, and other liquids have those properties and are called Newtonian Fluids. The cornstarch and water mixture has properties of both a liquid and a solid, so it is identified as a non-Newtonian fluid.

This mixture is made up of solid particles suspended in water. Chemists call this type of mixture a colloid . Colloids behave differently than solids and liquids. It can act like a solid when you apply force, but acts like a liquid when it isn’t under pressure.

Can you name any other non-Newtonian fluids? Ketchup and quick sand are both non-Newtonian fluids.

Next time you need to get some stubborn ketchup out of a bottle, don’t smack it- that will actually slow it down. All you need to do to get it out is to tip it over and have some patience.

And if you ever find yourself in quick sand, don’t panic and try to get out quickly! Move slowly, because the less force you apply, the less the quicksand will resist your movement.

HAVE FUN EXPERIMENTING!!

We have plenty of fun activities you can do with your kids on SomewhatSimple.com. Take a look at a few of our favorites:

Mary Poppins Family Movie Night || Family Time Capsule Free Printables || Butterfly Life Cycle Activity

Be sure to follow us on Social Media –

Facebook || Pinterest || Twitter || Instagram || YouTube

Have a great summer!!!

Click here for more Science fun!

Similar Posts

Mummy Paper Plate Kids Craft

Job Charts Free Printable

Rainforest in a Jar Kid Craft

100 Acts of Kindness Coloring Countdown

The Easiest Black Forest Cake Recipe

Solar System Craft

One comment.

• Pingback: CraftCrave | DigiFree | CraftCrave

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

How to Mix Cornstarch and Water to Make Oobleck

Pictured instructions and a video showing how to make and play with oobleck, a non-Newtonian fluid that flows like a liquid when moved slowly, but feels like a solid when you quickly push it.

For more science fun with the kids, be sure to check out our Edible Plant Cell project .

This cornstarch and water experiment is a great way to teach the States of Matter and non-Newtonian fluids. Is it a liquid or solid? YOU decide!

You can pick it up like a solid, but it will run through your fingers like a liquid – it is unlike anything you’ve felt before!

This experiment can be a bit messy, but couldn’t be easier to create and it will provide an entire afternoon of fun! Keep the kids at the counter and this Ooblek will wipe up just fine!

Cornstarch and Water Experiment

Here is the simple Oobleck recipe:

OOBLECK INGREDIENTS –

• 1 cup of corn starch
• 1/2 cup of water
• small dish or bowl

OPTIONAL MATERIALS –

• Newspaper (to cover your experiment area)
• Food Coloring (if you want to make it colorful)
• Small plastic toyS

CLASSROOM APPLICATIONS –

You can use this experiment in conjunction with the Dr. Suess’s book “Bartholomew and the Oobleck” . Just add some green food coloring to your mixture and have fun!

Oobleck Recipe

DIRECTIONS – Mix the cornstarch with water in your bowl. Add more or less of each ingredient until you get the consistency of honey.

Play with it!

• Tap the surface with a spoon- does it splash?
• Grab a handful and watch it slip through your fingers.
• Grab another handful and squeeze it in your palms. Does it slip through?
• Let your fingers slip slowly down to the bottom of the bowl. Try to pull them out fast!
• Grab a handful and roll it in the palm of your hands to make a ball. Stop rolling and watch what happens!
• Place a small plastic toy on the surface- does it sink?
• Stir the mixture slowly with your finger- do you feel resistance?
• Now, stir the mixture quickly with your finger – do you feel resistance now?

Cornstarch and Water Science Experiment Explanation

In the 1700s, Sir Isaac Newton identified the properties of a liquid. Water, juice, and other liquids have those properties and are called Newtonian Liquids or Fluids. The cornstarch and water mixture has properties of both a liquid and a solid, so it is identified as a non-Newtonian fluid.

This mixture is made up of solid particles suspended in water. Chemists, Physicists, and Scientists call this type of mixture a colloid . Colloids behave differently than solids and liquids. It can act like a solid when you apply force but acts like a liquid when it isn’t under pressure.

Can you name any other non-Newtonian fluids?

Ketchup and quicksand are both non-Newtonian fluids.

• Next time you need to get some stubborn ketchup out of a bottle, don’t smack it – that will actually slow it down. All you need to do to get it out is to tip it over and have some patience.
• And if you ever find yourself in quicksand, don’t panic and try to get out quickly! Move slowly, because the less force you apply, the less the quicksand will resist your movement.

Leave us a comment below if you try this cornstarch and water experiment and let us know how it goes. HAVE FUN EXPERIMENTING!!

Here is a video my kids and I made doing this cornstarch and water experiment, but keep reading for detailed directions and scientific applications –

Busy moms, this one is for YOU!

Leave a review cancel reply.

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or review below. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked*.

Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.

I consent to Somewhat Simple collecting and storing the data I submit in this form. (Privacy Policy) *

What are you looking for?

Get on the list.

By clicking GO, you're consenting to be added to our newsletter list. Don't worry, we won't ever send you spam and you can unsubscribe at any time.

How To: Make Non-Newtonian Fluid (& Experiment With It!)

Introduction: How To: Make Non-Newtonian Fluid (& Experiment With It!)

Step 1: Mix It!

Step 2: The Fluid Itself

Attachments

Step 3: experimenting: heat.

Step 4: Experimenting: Ice (Version 1)

Step 5: Experimenting: Ice (Version 2)

Step 6: Your Experiments

Recommendations.

Text Contest

Farm to Table Contest

Paper and Cardboard Contest

Science Fun

Outrageous Oobleck

• Corn Starch
• Flat bottom container or tray
• Optional – Bath coloring tablets

Instructions:

• Optional – Put a bath coloring tablet in the water. Avoid food coloring as it stains hands and is hard to remove. 
• Use your hands to mix about two cups of cornstarch with one cup of water in the tray.
• Enjoy your super easy to make Outrageous Oobleck. 

WATCH THE QUICK AND EASY VIDEO TUTORIAL

How it Works:

The corn starch and water mixture we call Outrageous Oobleck is a non-Newtonian as it can act as a liquid or solid. Allowing Outrageous Oobleck to flow through your fingers will act as a liquid but a quick force on oobleck will cause it to behave as a solid. 

Make This A Science Project:

What happen when you increase the water to corn starch ratio? What happens if you use a different liquid than water? What happens if you introduce another ingredient such as dish soap or baking soda? 

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

SUBSCRIBE AND NEVER MISS A NEW SCIENCE FUN VIDEO!

previous experiment

Next experiment.

Is it a liquid or a solid?

Giving children an opportunity to play with interesting materials in an open-ended setting allows them to develop observation skills, problem solving skills and methods of experimentation. The material used in this activity, “Oobleck”, is made from ingredients found in most kitchens.

Preparation

Create one bucket or large bowl of Oobleck. Put 10 cups of water into the bucket or bowl and empty 6 of the boxes of cornstarch in with the water. Now for the messy part—mix it with your hands. You’ll notice that it gets thicker the harder you stir—mix the starch and water together gently, pulling extra starch up from the bottom. When it seems like the mixture is even, set it aside. Adjust the mixture by adding water or cornstarch (the extra boxes of cornstarch are for thickening the mixture). It should feel solid if you move your finger along the surface, but if you pick it up and hold it, it should drip through your fingers.

Cover the tables or desks in newspaper—this activity gets messy! You can also make smocks for yourself and your students out of large trash bags. Cornstarch cleans up easily with water, so don’t worry too much. You can also play with Oobleck outside—it is a natural, biodegradable material, so it’s OK if it falls on the ground.

A few minutes before you start the activity, re-mix the Oobleck—Oobleck can separate if it sits for too long.

Suggested Materials

• Cornstarch (8 boxes)
• Bucket or large bowl
• Plastic bowls and plates (10–20 of each)
• Spoons, craft sticks, cups and other tools for investigating
• Paper and pencils

Make it Matter

Opening discussion.

Ask your students if they have ever done any experiments before. What sorts of things did they experiment with? Tell them that today they will experiment with a substance called Oobleck. Tell them that you don’t know a lot about it, and you’d like them to play with it and share their discoveries with you.

The Challenge

Play with this mystery substance and see what you can learn about it.

Make it Happen

Doing the activity.

• Have your students work in teams of 3 or 4 for this activity.
• Hand out at least one bowl and one plate to each team (2 of each is ideal). Also distribute spoons, craft sticks, cups and any other tools you have available for them to explore with.
• Scoop 1–2 cups of Oobleck into one of each team’s bowls and invite your students to simply play around with the substance. What can they learn about it? Do they observe anything interesting or surprising? Have them record their observations.

Make it Click

Let’s talk about it.

After your students have experimented with the Oobleck for about 15 or 20 minutes, have them take a break and come together to talk about what they’ve discovered. Create a list on a piece of chart paper or a chalkboard of the things that they discovered about Oobleck. Then ask your students to list some other things that they might like to find out by playing with it some more.

Make it Better

Build on what they talked about.

Have your students return to the Oobleck to answer some of the new or lingering questions. When they are done, have them help you clean up, then ask them to add to your list of what you all know about Oobleck.

Suggestions

• Potato flour will work if cornstarch is unavailable.
• Cleanup: DO NOT POUR OOBLECK DOWN THE DRAIN!!!  It can clog your sink. Instead, leave it out to dry then throw out the chunk of dried Oobleck. You can also “remake” dried Oobleck by adding water to it.
• Another cleanup hint—if any Oobleck spills on the table or on the floor, first pick up as much of it as you can and put it in a bowl or bucket to dry. Wipe up anything remaining with a sponge. Trying to mop up large spills will make a real mess.
• For more information on the science behind Oobleck, see this page on Wikipedia.
• As an introduction to this activity, read the Dr. Seuss book “Bartholomew and the Oobleck” to your students.
• For a great classroom series of activities with Oobleck, check out the GEMS curriculum “Oobleck: What Do Scientists Do?”, from Lawrence Hall of Science.

Boston Children's Museum 308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210 617-426-6500

© Boston Children’s Museum 2024

Suggestions or feedback?

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Machine learning
• Social justice
• Black holes
• Classes and programs

Departments

• Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Brain and Cognitive Sciences
• Architecture
• Political Science
• Mechanical Engineering

Centers, Labs, & Programs

• Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
• Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
• Lincoln Laboratory
• School of Architecture + Planning
• School of Engineering
• School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
• Sloan School of Management
• School of Science
• MIT Schwarzman College of Computing

Oobleck’s weird behavior is now predictable

Press contact :, media download.

*Terms of Use:

Images for download on the MIT News office website are made available to non-commercial entities, press and the general public under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives license . You may not alter the images provided, other than to crop them to size. A credit line must be used when reproducing images; if one is not provided below, credit the images to "MIT."

Previous image Next image

It’s a phenomenon many preschoolers know well: When you mix cornstarch and water, weird things happen. Swish it gently in a bowl, and the mixture sloshes around like a liquid. Squeeze it, and it starts to feel like paste. Roll it between your hands, and it solidifies into a rubbery ball. Try to hold that ball in the palm of your hand, and it will dribble away as a liquid.

Most of us who have played with this stuff know it as “oobleck,” named after a sticky green goo in Dr. Seuss’ “Bartholomew and the Oobleck.” Scientists, on the other hand, refer to cornstarch and water as a “non-Newtonian fluid” — a material that appears thicker or thinner depending on how it is physically manipulated.

Now MIT engineers have developed a mathematical model that predicts oobleck’s weird behavior. Using their model, the researchers accurately simulated how oobleck turns from a liquid to a solid and back again, under various conditions.

Aside from predicting what the stuff might do in the hands of toddlers, the new model can be useful in predicting how oobleck and other solutions of ultrafine particles might behave for military and industrial applications. Could an oobleck-like substance fill highway potholes and temporarily harden as a car drives over it? Or perhaps the slurry could pad the lining of bulletproof vests, morphing briefly into an added shield against sudden impacts. With the team’s new oobleck model, designers and engineers can start to explore such possibilities.

“It’s a simple material to make — you go to the grocery store, buy cornstarch, then turn on your faucet,” says Ken Kamrin, associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT. “But it turns out the rules that govern how this material flows are very nuanced.”

Kamrin, along with graduate student Aaron Baumgarten, have published their results today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .

A clumpy model

Kamrin’s primary work focuses on characterizing the flow of granular material such as sand. Over the years, he’s developed a mathematical model that accurately predicts the flow of dry grains under a number of different conditions and environments. When Baumgarten joined the group, the researchers started work on a model to describe how saturated wet sand moves. It was around this time that Kamrin and Baumgarten saw a scientific talk on oobleck.

“We’d seen this talk, and we had a lengthy debate over what is oobleck, and how is it different from wet sand,” Kamrin says. “After some vigorous back and forth with Aaron, he decided to see if we could turn this wet sand model into one for oobleck.”

Granular material in oobleck is much finer than sand: A single particle of cornstarch is about 1 to 10 microns wide and about one-hundredth the size of a grain of sand. Kamrin says particles at such a small scale experience effects that larger particles such as sand do not. For instance, because cornstarch particles are so small, they can be influenced by temperature, and by electric charges that build up between particles, causing them to slightly repel against each other.

“As long as you squish slowly, the grains will repel, keeping a layer of fluid between them, and just slide past each other, like a fluid,” Kamrin says. “But if you do anything too fast, you’ll overcome that little repulsion, the particles will touch, there will be friction, and it’ll act as a solid.”

This repulsion happening at the small scale brings out a key difference between large and ultrafine grain mixtures at the lab scale: The viscosity, or consistency of wet sand at a given packing density remains the same, whether you stir it gently or slam a fist into it. In contrast, oobleck has a low, liquid-like viscosity when slowly stirred. But if its surface is punched, a rapidly growing zone of the slurry adjacent to the contact point becomes more viscous, causing oobleck’s surface to bounce back and resist the impact, like a solid trampoline.

They found that stress was the main factor in determining whether a material was more or less viscous. For instance, the faster and more forcefully oobleck is disturbed, the “clumpier” it is — that is, the more the underlying particles make frictional, as opposed to lubricated, contact. If it is slowly and gently deformed, oobleck is less viscous, with particles that are more evenly distributed and that repel against each other, like a liquid.

The team looked to model the effect of repulsion of fine particles, with the idea that perhaps a new “clumpiness variable” could be added to their model of wet sand to make an accurate model of oobleck. In their model, they included mathematical terms to describe how this variable would grow and shrink under a certain stress or force.

“Now we have a robust way of modeling how clumpy any chunk of the material in the body will be as you deform it in an arbitrary way,” Baumgarten says.

Wheels spinning

The researchers incorporated this new variable into their more general model for wet sand, and looked to see whether it would predict oobleck’s behavior. They used their model to simulate previous experiments by others, including a simple setup of oobleck being squeezed and sheared between two plates, and a set of experiments in which a small projectile is shot into a tank of oobleck at different speeds.

In all scenarios, the simulations matched the experimental data and reproduced the motion of the oobleck, replicating the regions where it morphed from liquid to solid, and back again.

To see how their model could predict oobleck’s behavior in more complex conditions, the team simulated a pronged wheel driving at different speeds over a deep bed of the slurry. They found the faster the wheel spun, the more the mixture formed what Baumgarten calls a “solidification front” in the oobleck, that momentarily supports the wheel so that it can roll across without sinking.

Kamrin and Baumgarten say the new model can be used to explore how various ultrafine-particle solutions such as oobleck behave when put to use as, for instance, fillings for potholes, or bulletproof vests. They say the model could also help to identify ways to redirect slurries through systems such as industrial plants.

“With industrial waste products, you could get fine particle suspensions that don’t flow the way you expect, and you have to move them from this vat to that vat, and there may be best practices that people don’t know yet, because there’s no model for it,” Kamrin says. “Maybe now there is.”

This research was supported, in part, by the Army Research Office and the National Science Foundation.

Share this news article on:

Related links.

• Paper: “A general constitutive model for dense, fine particle suspensions validated in many geometries”
• Kenneth Kamrin
• Department of Mechanical Engineering

Related Topics

• Computer modeling
• Fluid dynamics
• Mechanical engineering
• Materials science and engineering
• National Science Foundation (NSF)

Related Articles

Ken Kamrin seeks fundamental behaviors in sand

New scaling law predicts how wheels drive over sand

Pushing through sand

Motion-induced quicksand

Research update: A new model accurately predicts three-dimensional sand flow

Previous item Next item

More MIT News

Study reveals why AI models that analyze medical images can be biased

Read full story →

Leaning into the immune system’s complexity

Scientists use computational modeling to guide a difficult chemical synthesis

CHARMed collaboration creates a potent therapy candidate for fatal prion diseases

Two MIT films nominated for New England Emmy Awards

Fotini Christia named director of the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society

• More news on MIT News homepage →

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA

• Map (opens in new window)
• Events (opens in new window)
• People (opens in new window)
• Careers (opens in new window)
• Accessibility
• Social Media Hub
• MIT on Facebook
• MIT on YouTube
• MIT on Instagram

Top 15 Science Experiments with Cornstarch

Cornstarch, an everyday pantry staple, is often reserved for thickening gravies or perfecting baked goods. But what if we told you that this unassuming white powder holds the key to a realm of scientific wonders?

When cornstarch meets science, the results are nothing short of magical: from dancing particles to mystifying liquids that behave like solids.

Discover the captivating world of cornstarch with our carefully curated collection of the top 15 cornstarch experiments, perfect for students of all ages.

By engaging in these experiments, students can enhance their problem-solving skills, foster a love for experimentation, and deepen their understanding of scientific concepts.

It’s time to unleash your inner scientist and explore the wonders of this remarkable substance!

1. Electric Cornstarch

This mesmerizing experiment combines the simplicity of cornstarch with the mind-blowing properties of electricity.

2. Rainbow Foam Dough

Get ready to dive into a world of colorful wonder with the captivating experiment of Rainbow Foam Dough! Brace yourself for a sensory explosion as you blend the magic of cornstarch with vibrant hues, creating a mesmerizing, squishy masterpiece.

Learn more: Rainbow Foam Dough

3. Frozen Popsicle Chalk

Combining cornstarch’s wonders with vibrant colors and freezing temperatures will create a unique and refreshing medium for your artistic expression.

Imagine the thrill of crafting your very own popsicle-shaped chalk that magically transforms sidewalks into vibrant masterpieces.

Learn more: Frozen Popsicle Chalk

4. Cornstarch Quicksand

Mixing cornstarch with water creates a mesmerizing concoction that behaves like both a solid and a liquid, defying our understanding of conventional materials.

5. Scented Edible Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Imagine the thrill of transforming your ordinary sidewalk into a vibrant canvas that not only showcases your artistic talent but also tantalizes your senses.

By combining the magic of cornstarch with enticing scents and vibrant colors, you’ll create a unique and mouthwatering medium for your creative expression.

Learn more: Scented Edible Sidewalk Chalk Paint

6. Pretend Frozen/Melting Ice Cream

By combining the wonders of cornstarch with colorful ingredients and a touch of magic, you’ll craft a sensory masterpiece that mimics the look and feel of real ice cream.

Learn more: Pretend Frozen/Melting Ice Cream

7. Colorful Oobleck

! Brace yourself for a magical substance that defies the laws of physics and challenges your understanding of matter.

By combining the simplicity of cornstarch with a burst of vibrant colors, you’ll create a mind-bending concoction that is both a liquid and a solid.

Learn more: Colorful Oobleck

8. Make Homemade Watercolor

Get ready to unleash your inner artist and explore the fascinating world of color with the captivating experiment of making Homemade Watercolor!

Get your paintbrushes ready as you embark on a creative journey that allows you to craft your very own vibrant and unique watercolors using cornstarch.

Learn more: Make Homemade Watercolor

9. Dancing Oobleck

As you explore the properties of this peculiar substance, you’ll witness Oobleck come to life, dancing and rippling in response to vibrations.

Learn more: Dancing Oobleck

10. Make A Clay

This hands-on experience allows you to experiment with different textures, shapes, and designs, providing endless possibilities for artistic expression.

Learn more: Make A Clay

11. Edible Gluten Free No Cook Playdough

By combining the wonders of cornstarch with simple ingredients from your kitchen, you’ll create a sensory masterpiece that can be molded, squished, and sculpted to your heart’s content.

Learn more: Edible Gluten Free No Cook Playdough

12. Home Made Easy Face Paint

Get ready to transform into a colorful and imaginative character with the captivating experiment of Homemade Easy Face Paint using cornstarch! Get your brushes ready as you embark on a creative journey that allows you to customize your own face paint using simple ingredients found in your kitchen.

Learn more: Home Made Easy Face Paint

By combining cornstarch with water, you’ll create a mesmerizing concoction that behaves like a liquid and a solid simultaneously.

Learn more: Sludge

14. Cornstarch Goo

y mixing cornstarch with water, you’ll create a gooey and malleable material that reacts in unexpected ways. As you explore the properties of Cornstarch Goo, you’ll witness its peculiar behavior—firm when touched with force but fluid and runny when left alone.

15. Edible Slime or Gak

Get your hands ready for a squishy and tasty experience as you combine the wonders of cornstarch with edible ingredients to create a delightful slime that you can eat. This hands-on experiment not only lets you explore the fun and tactile sensation of slime but also offers a safe and delicious twist.

Learn more: Edible Slime or Gak

Similar Posts:

• Top 100 Fine Motor Skills Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
• 68 Best Chemistry Experiments: Learn About Chemical Reactions
• Top 50 Fun Food Science Experiments

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment.

How to Do the Cornstarch Quicksand Science Experiment- Just 2 Ingredients!

Categories STEM Activities

We love science and STEM activities. A couple of years ago, we did a whole month of STEM activities with our creative STEM activities series. Today’s cornstarch quicksand science experiment was our favorite science experiment for kids of the month.

We loved how the cornstarch mixture became a solid and a liquid at the same time. This classic oobleck science experiment is always a hit for kids, and makes the perfect quick science experiment!

Keep reading to learn how to make cornstarch quicksand and how to turn this science activity into a good option for elementary school science fair projects.

You’ll love how much fun it is to do with kids, and kids will love how messy it is.

Since the experiment is messy, it’s best to do it outside, or warn parents in advance to dress their kids in play-safe clothing on the day you’ll be doing this oobleck science experiment.

How to Turn the Cornstarch Quicksand Science Experiment into a Science Fair Project

Learn how to make quicksand with cornstarch and learn about Non-Newtonian fluids! The quicksand science experiment is fun and hands-on!

Click the image below to get the science lab and oobleck science experiment worksheets for this activity!

The Scientific Method for Kids

Science is a logical system for exploring our world. Each science experiment should include:

• Question : Kids should start every science experiment with a question, even if that question is just “what will happen?”
• Experiment: This is where the fun part comes into play. Test the hypothesis to determine if it answers the question fully.
• Recording and Analysis: As the test is completed, record what happened and analyze why.
• Retest: Try different variables and try a new test to see if the original answer is confirmed or disproved. Every variable should be tested more than once.

When you include these elements in your science experiment, then you can use it as a science fair project.

Cornstarch Experiment Explanation

Cornstarch and water mixed acts both like a solid and a liquid. Cornstarch and water is a suspension mixture with a solid dispersed into a liquid. When you press the mixture quickly, the starch molecules close together.

This causes the water to get trapped between the starch chains and create a semi-rigid structure. When you press slowly, this starch chain “block” doesn’t happen and the mixture flows like a liquid.

Because the viscosity of the mixture changes with force rather than heat, the cornstarch mixture is known as a non-Newtonian fluid.

Slime is another fun non-Newtonian fluid.

Is Quicksand a Non Newtonian Fluid?

The biggest takeaway from this science experiment are non-Newtonian fluid science and viscosity science. Pressure causes the molecules in the starch to cling together, seizing up the mixture.

But when you relax, the molecules relax and flow around your hand or foot or whatever they are on. Challenge your class to see what other non-Newtonian fluids they can think of.

What makes these fluids different from regular fluids like water and syrup?

Experiment with different amounts of cornstarch and water to see how long it takes for the mixture to become a full liquid, when it becomes a full solid, and what levels of viscosity there are in between those extremes.

Supplies for the Cornstarch Quicksand Science Experiment

For this non-Newtonian fluid experiment you will need:

• 1 box of corn starch
• A large bowl
• Food coloring

What You Need for a Science Fair

You’ll want to have these supplies on hand before doing your science fair project. Shop the included Amazon storefronts to make things easier and don’t forget to download the free science fair planning checklist before getting started!

Science Fair Project Planning

When you’re planning your project, you want to keep everything organized. Click the image below to get my free science fair project checklist so you can start organizing your project from the start.

You may also want to check out this list of science fair project research supplies.

Supplies for a Science Fair Project

There are so many supplies for science fair projects that are individual to each project, but if you want a general list of possible supplies and inspiration for your project, check out my selection of science fair experiment supplies on Amazon.

Supplies for a Science Fair Presentation

Your science fair presentation is important! It should look presentable and eye-catching. Check out this list of my favorite science fair presentation supplies.

How to Make Quicksand with Cornstarch

Mix the corn starch and the water together at a ratio of about 10 parts starch to 1 part water. Start the mixture by adding about ½ of a cup of cornstarch to about 1 cup of water.

Play with the mixture until it reaches the consistency that you want. You’re aiming for a texture that is runny when relaxed, but still firm enough to seize up when they hit the mixture.

Cornstarch Quicksand Science Experiment Results

This cornstarch science experiment is messy, but is always a favorite with kids. Take it outside and make a big batch in a bucket or shallow pan. Then have the kids run across it really quickly.

This makes it appear as if they are walking on water! Since they apply force when running, the mixture remains firm.

But if they relax and stand still, the will sink into the goo. It’s just like quicksand!

More Oobleck Science Experiments

Glow in the Dark Oobleck Science Fair Project

How to Make Galaxy Oobleck (with a science twist!)

Easy non-Newtonian Fluid Recipe Using Conversation Hearts

Oobleck Monsters

Share this project with a friend!

Cornell Video

Ask a question, ask a question successful, thanks , your question has been submitted..

Tune in to watch the broadcast.

Set reminder for

before the event starts.

How oobleck works: The mystery of shear-thickening cornstarch solutions

Transcript request form, we've received your request.

You will be notified by email when the transcript and captions are available. The process may take up to 5 business days. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions about this request.

When you mix cornstarch and water you get an unusual result. If you treat it gently, it behaves like a liquid. But if you are rough with it, it behaves like a solid. How can this be? Itai Cohen, associate professor of physics, and his graduate student, Neil Lin, demonstrate the phenomenon and explain the reasons behind it.

Related Links

• Cornell Chronicle: The secret of Oobleck revealed at last
• shear thickening

Give Feedback

Thanks for writing. We will be in touch shortly to address any questions, concerns, or technical difficulties you may have.

Schedule of Future Events

There are no live broadcasts scheduled.

Email Updates

See what's new on Cornell Video and find out what's coming up next — and how you can take part. Subscribe to receive weekly Cornell Video updates via email.

Our hamsters have processed your subscription request and advise that the weekly update messages will contain details on unsubscribing in case you need them.

Our hamsters have processed your request and advise that a summary has been sent to the email address entered.

RSVP to this Live Event

Enter your email below to be notified when this event begins

RSVP Successful

You should receive an email confirmation shortly. We will send you an email reminder before the show begins. You may request additional reminders for other times if you wish.

You can also add this event to a calendar of your choice

For iCal, an .ics file will be downloaded to your computer or device. You may need to take additional steps to add the event to your personal calendar.

Let us know your preferences and our accommodating hamsters will snap to it!

Follow this tbd

Enter your email below to be notified when new related videos become available.

Thanks for Your Interest

You should receive an email confirmation shortly. We will send you an email message when new related videos are posted.

Sciencing_Icons_Science SCIENCE

Sciencing_icons_biology biology, sciencing_icons_cells cells, sciencing_icons_molecular molecular, sciencing_icons_microorganisms microorganisms, sciencing_icons_genetics genetics, sciencing_icons_human body human body, sciencing_icons_ecology ecology, sciencing_icons_chemistry chemistry, sciencing_icons_atomic & molecular structure atomic & molecular structure, sciencing_icons_bonds bonds, sciencing_icons_reactions reactions, sciencing_icons_stoichiometry stoichiometry, sciencing_icons_solutions solutions, sciencing_icons_acids & bases acids & bases, sciencing_icons_thermodynamics thermodynamics, sciencing_icons_organic chemistry organic chemistry, sciencing_icons_physics physics, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-physics fundamentals, sciencing_icons_electronics electronics, sciencing_icons_waves waves, sciencing_icons_energy energy, sciencing_icons_fluid fluid, sciencing_icons_astronomy astronomy, sciencing_icons_geology geology, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-geology fundamentals, sciencing_icons_minerals & rocks minerals & rocks, sciencing_icons_earth scructure earth structure, sciencing_icons_fossils fossils, sciencing_icons_natural disasters natural disasters, sciencing_icons_nature nature, sciencing_icons_ecosystems ecosystems, sciencing_icons_environment environment, sciencing_icons_insects insects, sciencing_icons_plants & mushrooms plants & mushrooms, sciencing_icons_animals animals, sciencing_icons_math math, sciencing_icons_arithmetic arithmetic, sciencing_icons_addition & subtraction addition & subtraction, sciencing_icons_multiplication & division multiplication & division, sciencing_icons_decimals decimals, sciencing_icons_fractions fractions, sciencing_icons_conversions conversions, sciencing_icons_algebra algebra, sciencing_icons_working with units working with units, sciencing_icons_equations & expressions equations & expressions, sciencing_icons_ratios & proportions ratios & proportions, sciencing_icons_inequalities inequalities, sciencing_icons_exponents & logarithms exponents & logarithms, sciencing_icons_factorization factorization, sciencing_icons_functions functions, sciencing_icons_linear equations linear equations, sciencing_icons_graphs graphs, sciencing_icons_quadratics quadratics, sciencing_icons_polynomials polynomials, sciencing_icons_geometry geometry, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-geometry fundamentals, sciencing_icons_cartesian cartesian, sciencing_icons_circles circles, sciencing_icons_solids solids, sciencing_icons_trigonometry trigonometry, sciencing_icons_probability-statistics probability & statistics, sciencing_icons_mean-median-mode mean/median/mode, sciencing_icons_independent-dependent variables independent/dependent variables, sciencing_icons_deviation deviation, sciencing_icons_correlation correlation, sciencing_icons_sampling sampling, sciencing_icons_distributions distributions, sciencing_icons_probability probability, sciencing_icons_calculus calculus, sciencing_icons_differentiation-integration differentiation/integration, sciencing_icons_application application, sciencing_icons_projects projects, sciencing_icons_news news.

• Share Tweet Email Print
• Home ⋅
• Science Fair Project Ideas for Kids, Middle & High School Students ⋅

Experiments With Cornstarch & Water

Why Do Balloons Inflate When on a Bottle of Hot Water?

Matter is usually defined as being a solid, a liquid or a gas. Suspensions, however, act as different states of matter depending on the force applied to them. Using cornstarch and water, you can create a suspension and conduct experiments to model how this type of matter behaves.

Suspensions

Mix 1 cup of cornstarch and 1 cup of water in a bowl. Stir until you have the consistency of pancake batter. Put your hands in the mixture and move them around. The more you try to move it, the thicker and more solid it feels. Pour the mixture into a pan and hit it with an open hand. It doesn’t splash. Cornstarch and water creates a suspension. When squeezed, it feels like a solid because its molecules move closer together, lining up. It looks and acts like a liquid when there is no force applied to it because the molecules are relaxed and separated.

Cornstarch Quicksand

Demonstrate how quicksand works by mixing 1 cup of water to a box of cornstarch. Place your hand into the mixture and move it around. The more you move, the more solid it becomes. Try to grab the mixture and pull it upward. The sensation is the same sensation you would feel in quicksand. Place an object in the mixture, then try to remove it. Cornstarch and water make a suspension; a mixture of two substances where one is dispersed into the other. In this case, cornstarch is dispersed into water. Quicksand is a mixture of sand and water, where the grains of sand float on the water. The faster you move around in it, the harder it becomes to get out, just as with the cornstarch and water.

Non-Newtonian Fluid

Non-Newtonian fluids turn into solids when pressure is applied. To demonstrate this, mix a quarter-cup of cornstarch with a quarter cup of water. Try to pick up the mixture in your hand and work it into a ball on your palm. It is solid and workable if you push it around. When you stop, it turns to liquid. Tap it with your finger, then press your finger slowly into the mixture. When you move slowly you allow the cornstarch molecules to separate. When you tap it, the cornstarch molecules move closer together and cannot slide past each other, creating a barrier. In most fluids, viscosity is only affected by temperature. These are called Newtonian fluids. Cornstarch and water is affected by temperature as well, but its level of viscosity also depends on the force applied to it or how fast something moves through it. This makes it non-Newtonian. Quicksand and ketchup are also non-Newtonian fluids.

Dancing Suspensions

Cornstarch and water does not have a constant viscosity. Left alone, it looks like a liquid. When stressed, such as when you push it or pull it, it changes to a solid. Demonstrate this by doing an experiment with speakers. Mix a box of cornstarch with a cup of water. Find an old speaker and remove the bottom part (the woofer) and hook it up to an amplifier. Line the speaker with a plastic bag and pour the cornstarch into it. Turn the speaker on at about 20 hertz, with the volume at a medium level. At 20 hertz the speaker’s percussive movements disturb the mixture enough to make it move. The sound waves travel through to make the mixture appear to dance in finger-like formations.

Related Articles

How to make rubber with corn starch, water and vinegar, science project: the effects of temperature on liquids, how does changing the temperature affect the viscosity..., easy & simple science projects on matter for kids, ice cubes melting process, characteristics of a colloid, does viscosity increase with the size of the molecule, what is the difference between a solution and a suspension, how to perform the corn starch and speaker experiment, substances that won't dissolve in water, chemistry projects for diffusion in liquids, why does sugar affect the freezing point of water, difference between fluid and liquid, how to make flubber without borox or liquid starch, how temperature affects the stretch of a rubber band, how to remove sugar from water, how to calculate density from viscosity.

• Kid Zone: Cornstarch Suspension
• Science is Fun: Lumpy Liquids and Squishy Solids

About the Author

Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. Miller holds a diploma in social services from Clarke College in Belleville, Ontario.

Find Your Next Great Science Fair Project! GO

Get Your ALL ACCESS Shop Pass here →

Electric Cornstarch Experiment

It’s alive! This cornstarch slime is a fun twist on the classic oobleck recipe or cornstarch and water experiment . This electric cornstarch experiment is perfect as an experiment to demonstrate the power of attraction (between charged particles that is!) You just need 2 ingredients from your pantry and a couple of basic household ingredients to do this slime-y science experiment .

Making Jumping Goop For Science

Our Electric Cornstarch Experiment is a fun example of static electricity at work. We love simple physics experiments and have been exploring science for kindergarten, preschool, and early elementary for 10 years now

Grab some cornstarch and oil, and let’s find out what happens when you mix them with a charged balloon! Can you make your cornstarch slime jump toward the balloon? Make sure to read up on the science behind the experiment too!

Check out our list of easy static electricity experiments.

Click here to grab your FREE STEM Activity!

Cornstarch Experiment

Note: This is a slightly different recipe than our classic oobleck recipe . You can also set this experiment up with a balloon and water.

• Three tablespoons cornstarch
• Vegetable oil

Instructions:

STEP 1. Add 3 tablespoons of cornstarch to a plastic cup or bowl.

STEP 2. Slowly add vegetable oil to the cornstarch, stirring until the consistency is that of a pancake mix.

STEP 3. Blow the balloon up partially and tie it off. Rub against your hair to create static electricity.

STEP 4. Move the charged balloon towards a spoonful of the dripping cornstarch and oil mixture. Watch what happens! 

The cornstarch will pull itself towards the balloon; it may even defy gravity and arch upward to meet it. Move the cornstarch toward a part of the balloon that is not charged. What happens now?

How Does It Work

When you rub the balloon on a rough surface like your hair you give it additional electrons. These new electrons generate a negative static charge. On the other hand, the cornstarch and oil mixture, being a non-Newtonian fluid (neither a liquid or a solid) has a neutral charge.

When an object has a negative charge, it will repel the electrons of other objects and attract that object’s protons.

When the neutrally charged object is light enough, like the dripping cornstarch, the negatively charged object will attract the lightweight object. Dripping the cornstarch means it is easier for it to swing towards the balloon.

Check out more fun ways to demonstrate static electricity!

Turn It Into A Cornstarch Science Project

Science projects are an excellent tool for older kiddos to show what they know about science! Plus, they can be used in various environments including classrooms, homeschool, and groups.

Kids can take everything they have learned about using the scientific method , stating a hypothesis, choosing variables , making observations and analyzing and presenting data.

Want to turn this experiment into an awesome science fair project? Check out these helpful resources.

• Science Project Tips From A Teacher
• Science Fair Board Ideas
• Easy Science Fair Projects

Science Experiments For Kids

Science learning starts early, and you can be a part of that by  setting up science at home  with everyday materials. Or you can bring easy science experiments to a group of kids in the classroom!

We find a ton of value in cheap science activities and experiments. All our science experiments use inexpensive, everyday materials you can find at home or source from your local dollar store.

We even have a whole list of kitchen science experiments , using basic supplies you will have in your kitchen.

You can set up your science experiments as an activity focusing on exploration and discovery. Make sure to ask kids questions at each step, discuss what is happening and talk about the science behind it.

Alternatively, you can introduce the scientific method, get kids to record their observations, and make conclusions. Read more about the  scientific method for kids  to help you get started.

Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• 8 Science Books for Kids
• All About Scientists
• Free Science Worksheets
• Science Supplies List
• Science Tools for Kids
• Join us in the Club

More Fun Science Experiments For Kids

Click on the images below for some of our favorite science experiments for kids.

• Screaming Balloon Experiment
• Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment
• Balloon Rocket
• Soda Balloon Experiment
• Bending Water Experiment
• Lava Lamp Experiment

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!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• 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!!
• Bonus STEAM Project Pack:  Art meets science with doable projects!
• Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics

Subscribe to receive a free 5-Day STEM Challenge Guide

~ projects to try now ~.

How to Walk on Water

A Non-Newtonian Fluid Science Experiment Using Cornstarch

Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

• Projects & Experiments
• Chemical Laws
• Periodic Table
• Scientific Method
• Biochemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Medical Chemistry
• Chemistry In Everyday Life
• Famous Chemists
• Activities for Kids
• Abbreviations & Acronyms
• Weather & Climate
• Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
• B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College

Have you ever tried to walk on water? Chances are, you were unsuccessful (and no, ice skating doesn't really count). Why did you fail? Your density is much higher than that of water, so you sank. Yet, other organisms can walk on water. If you apply a bit of science, you can too. This is a terrific science project for kids of all ages .

Materials to Walk on Water

• 100 boxes cornstarch
• 10 gallons of water
• small plastic kiddie pool (or large plastic tub)

What You Do

• Go outside. Technically, you could perform this project in your bathtub, but there's an excellent chance you'd clog your pipes. Plus, this project gets messy fast.
• Pour the corn starch into the pool.
• Add the water. Mix it in and experiment with your "water". It's a good opportunity to experience what it's like to get stuck in quicksand (without the danger).
• When you're done, you can allow the cornstarch to settle to the bottom of the pool, scoop it out, and throw it away. You can hose everyone off with water.

How It Works

If you trudge slowly across the water, you'll sink, yet if you walk briskly or run, you stay on top of the water. If you walk across the water and stop, you'll sink. If you try to yank your foot out of the water, it will get stuck, yet if you pull it out slowly, you'll escape.

What is happening? You've essentially made homemade quicksand or a giant pool of oobleck . Corn starch in water displays interesting properties. Under some conditions, it behaves as a liquid , while under other conditions, it acts as a solid . If you punch the mixture, it will be like hitting a wall, yet you can sink your hand or body into it like water. If you squeeze it, it feels firm, yet when you release the pressure, the fluid flows through your fingers.

A Newtonian fluid is one which maintains constant viscosity. Corn starch in water is a non-Newtonian fluid because its viscosity changes according to pressure or agitation. When you apply pressure to the mixture, you increase the viscosity, making it seem harder. Under lower pressure, the fluid is less viscous and flows more readily. Corn starch in water is a shear thickening fluid or dilatant fluid.

The opposite effect is seen with another common non-Newtonian fluid — ketchup. The viscosity of ketchup is reduced when it is disturbed, which is why it's easier to pour ketchup out of a bottle after you shake it up.

• Is There a Urine Detector for Swimming Pools?
• 10 Cool Chemistry Experiments
• How Oobleck Works
• The Science of Slime
• Kinetic Sand Recipe
• Learn How to Escape Quicksand
• What Is Viscosity in Physics?
• How to Make Slime, Classic Recipe
• Today I Learned in Science (TIL)
• Silly Putty History and Chemistry
• How to Make Slime with Borax and White Glue
• How to Make Oobleck Slime
• 5 Ways to Make Glue
• Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids
• Simple Water Science Magic Tricks
• Understanding What Fluid Dynamics is