Are you looking for a fun and interactive science experiment or a way to entertain the kids? Introducing oobleck! Oobleck is an easy-to-make, non-Newtonian liquid that acts like both a solid and a liquid. All you need are common household items, such as flour, water, and food coloring. You don’t even need cornstarch! Read on to learn how to make oobleck with just flour.
Table of Contents
What Is an Oobleck?
Oobleck is a type of non-Newtonian liquid named after Dr. Seuss’ book Bartholomew and the Oobleck. It consists of two ingredients—water and cornstarch or flour—and behaves differently than other liquids when pressure is applied.
When it is met with pressure from your hands, it feels solid; however, when you release pressure from it, it flows like a liquid. This makes it ideal for science experiments because children can observe how the properties change under different conditions.
How to Make Oobleck with Flour
Making oobleck at home couldn’t be easier! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Flour (you can also use cornstarch but we’re using flour in this recipe)
- Water
- Food coloring (optional)
- A bowl or container to mix the ingredients in
To make the oobleck, start by adding 1 cup of flour into a bowl or container.
Then slowly add 1/2 cup of water while stirring until all lumps are gone. Feel free to add food coloring if desired and mix it in until everything is evenly distributed.
The texture should resemble that of wet dough; if it’s too thin, add more flour; if it’s too thick, add more water until desired consistency is reached.
Now your oobleck is ready to be played with! You can squeeze it between your fingers or roll it into balls—it’s up to you!
FAQs
Can you make oobleck with baking soda?
Yes, you can make oobleck with baking soda.
In fact, it is one of the most popular methods for creating oobleck due to its simplicity and accessibility.
To make oobleck with baking soda, all you need is baking soda and water.
Start by mixing equal parts of baking soda and water in a bowl until it reaches a thick, dough-like consistency.
Once you have achieved this, you can then knead and shape the oobleck into any shape of your choosing.
The baking soda will help to form small bumps on the surface of your oobleck that adds an extra element of texture and fun when playing with it.
With some experimentation and practice, you can create your own unique version of oobleck with baking soda in no time. You can also add food coloring to the mixture if you wish to create different colored versions of oobleck for extra fun and creativity. Ultimately, making oobleck with baking soda is an easy and cheap way to make a classic science experiment at home.
How to make oobleck with baking powder?
Making oobleck with baking powder is simple and can be done in a few steps.
Firstly, you will need to gather your ingredients: 1 cup of water, 2 cups of cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
Next, mix the cornstarch and water together in a bowl until it is all combined. After that, add the baking powder and mix until it is blended with the mixture.
Once everything is mixed together, you will need to knead the oobleck for about five minutes. This helps to give it more of a solid texture.
After kneading, you can now enjoy playing with your homemade oobleck! You can make it into different shapes or use it to mold things. Oobleck is also non-toxic, so it is safe for children to play with.
Read more: How To Make Tapioca Pearls Without Tapioca Flour?
Is oobleck edible?
Oobleck is a mixture of cornstarch and water that has an unusual property of becoming solid when pressure is applied. This makes it a popular substance for science experiments.
Though oobleck looks like slime, it is not edible and should not be ingested.
Cornstarch can cause digestive problems if consumed, which makes it unsafe to eat oobleck.
For this reason, it is important to keep oobleck out of reach of children and pets who might be tempted to taste it. It is also important to properly clean up any oobleck spills before allowing small children or animals in the area again.
Oobleck can make a fun and educational project for people of all ages, but never forget that it is not meant for consumption.
Conclusion
Making oobleck at home can be an exciting and educational experience for the whole family! Not only will kids have fun playing with this fascinating substance, but they will also learn about the properties of non-Newtonian liquids and have an opportunity to observe how they react under different conditions. With just two simple ingredients—flour and water—you too can make your own batch of homemade oobleck today! Have fun!
References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214785320408302
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/004005999903100605?journalCode=tcxa
