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what is oobleck

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Move over slime! The hottest trend now among kids is making oobleck. What is oobleck?

It’s an odd name isn’t it? When my 10-year-old son told me he wanted to make oobleck, I was baffled – I hadn’t heard of this name before.

What is Oobleck?

Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid; it has properties of both liquids and solids. Oobleck is neither a liquid or a solid. The cornstarch-and-water mixture creates a fluid that acts more like quicksand than water. When you apply force, like squeezing or tapping the oobleck, it will become thicker.

How do you make oobleck?

  1. Place 1 cup of cornstarch in a large bowl.
  2. Stir about 1/3 cup of water to the cornstarch, adding a little more if needed (to about ½ cup)
  3. Add 4-5 drops of food coloring to 1/2 cup of water if you want a colour
  4. Keep stirring with your hands until it has a gooey consistency
  5. Test the oobleck by grabbing a handful and trying to form a ball.

 

Why do kids like oobleck?

It makes a great science project or is just fun to play with. You can slowly dip your hand into it like a liquid, but if you squeeze the oobleck or punch it, it will feel solid.

Kids will have a ton of fun playing with oobleck. Make sure to lay out some newspaper or wax paper on a table before starting – the corn starch will get everywhere!