Non-Newtonian fluid recipe

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Many liquids, some of which exist in every household, are not Newtonian fluids. The simplest recipes consist of water and starch. This is a great way to experiment with non-toxic substances.

You don't need anything else for the experiments.
You don't need anything else for the experiments.

What you need:

  • 200 ml of water
  • 600 g corn starch
  • Whisk
  • key
  • spoon

Newtonian and abnormally viscous fluid

  • A Newtonian fluid has a linear, inelastic flow behavior. In other words, it doesn't matter if you pour or pour it out quickly or slowly. whether you hit it quickly or slowly, the liquid always behaves the same way. This is what is called normal viscosity.
  • An abnormally viscous liquid behaves differently depending on whether it is suddenly pushed in with force or whether you reach into it slowly. As a rule, it is dispersions, i.e. mixtures of solids and liquids, that show this behavior. Houses that stand on quicksand can stand steadily on them until a tremor shakes the mixture and turns it into a liquid. Everyone in the household knows the abnormal behavior of ketchup, which is obviously solid and then suddenly flows out of the bottle in a gush.

Recipe for a non-toxic, abnormally viscous liquid

  1. For the following experiment it is important that you take a starch that is insoluble in cold water and does not gelatinize. So flour is unsuitable. The recipe works best with cornstarch.
  2. Put the water in a bowl. Slowly stir in the starch.
  3. Hit the mass with a spoon. This has to spring back. Lay it on the ground. He has to sink in. If that doesn't work, you'll need to stir in a little more starch.
    4. Make water thicker - this is how it works with starch

    Have you ever tried using starch to make water thick? That is a …

Some experiments with the solid liquid

Now show that your recipe did not produce Newtonian fluid. The substance you have made is sometimes solid and sometimes liquid.

  • Let the spoon sink into the liquid. Pull it out quickly. The liquid solidifies and you lift up the whole bowl. Make a game of who can pull the spoon out of the crowd the fastest.
  • Hit it with the palm of your hand. It feels like a solid, elastic mass. Let your hand rest on it and gently press it down further. It will penetrate the liquid.
  • It is most impressive when you reach into the liquid with both hands and shape part of it into a ball. As long as you knead it vigorously, you can take the "starch ball" out of the crowd. As soon as you stop kneading, the ball will melt again.

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