Today we had our first lab. We came into the classroom and there were two beakers of water and a penny. We had to look at both the water and penny and write characteristics of each liquid and solid. After this we were given cornstarch and water and told to mix it. This is called Oobleck. In elementary school, we did this basic experiment to see the characteristics of liquids and solids. This experiment was really interesting because it shows the characteristics of solids and liquids.
When we started to mix it, it became a very thick liquid-like paste. My group and I started to play with it to see what consistency it had. When we applied weight and heat (our hands pressing down), it became hard and solid. Yet when you pour it on your hand or out of a bowl, it takes on the form of a liquid. The purpose of this experiment was to see whether it was a solid or a liquid, using the characteristics we know to figure it out. This was a challenge because it has the qualities of both a solid and liquid.
To figure out the answer, my group and I did various tests. We balled it up and threw it on the table, scraped it off the table, poured it back in the bowl, and we even died it blue with food coloring (why our hands are blue). We were very perplexed as to why it had both characteristics. We even poured it into the beaker and it stayed as a liquid. From our past knowledge, we knew that liquid has molecules with more space between them while solids have little to no space in-between each molecule.
Our findings were originally that it was both, then neither, then liquid. I am not positive which one it is. All I know is that when it is held and pushed together, the molecules are easily moved together, which makes it a solid like object. Then when it is let go, it allows the oobleck to move freely and allow the molecules to separate making it into a liquid. If I had to characterize oobleck as a liquid or solid, I would say liquid because it is easily
When we started to mix it, it became a very thick liquid-like paste. My group and I started to play with it to see what consistency it had. When we applied weight and heat (our hands pressing down), it became hard and solid. Yet when you pour it on your hand or out of a bowl, it takes on the form of a liquid. The purpose of this experiment was to see whether it was a solid or a liquid, using the characteristics we know to figure it out. This was a challenge because it has the qualities of both a solid and liquid.
To figure out the answer, my group and I did various tests. We balled it up and threw it on the table, scraped it off the table, poured it back in the bowl, and we even died it blue with food coloring (why our hands are blue). We were very perplexed as to why it had both characteristics. We even poured it into the beaker and it stayed as a liquid. From our past knowledge, we knew that liquid has molecules with more space between them while solids have little to no space in-between each molecule.
Our findings were originally that it was both, then neither, then liquid. I am not positive which one it is. All I know is that when it is held and pushed together, the molecules are easily moved together, which makes it a solid like object. Then when it is let go, it allows the oobleck to move freely and allow the molecules to separate making it into a liquid. If I had to characterize oobleck as a liquid or solid, I would say liquid because it is easily