Non-Newtonian Fluids
Maya and Zoey had been working in Zoey’s workshop for a while, testing Zoey’s boat to see if it would withstand different liquids. So far, they had tested out water, orange juice, milk, and hot chocolate, which nearly melted Zoey’s boat. Now, Maya was on a mission to find another substance, or liquid, to test Zoey’s boat in.
She rummaged through Zoey’s kitchen, but couldn’t find any other liquids that would fit. They were all either too thick or too runny. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She spotted a jar of cornstarch in the cupboard and grabbed a cup of water. She then put a scoop of cornstarch in the cup and mixed it into her sticky concoction. This substance that she created seemed to have a mind of its own. She named it "Ooey Gooey," and told Zoey about how it had the power to transform from squishy to solid and everything in between.
"Zoey, this stuff is like magic! Watch this," Maya said, plunging her hand into the Ooey Gooey. "It's like playing with a ball of dough, but when I hit it hard, it feels as solid as a rock!"
Zoey’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. "That’s so strange. It's kind of like a shape-shifter! One moment, it's gooey like honey, and the next, it's tough as a rubber ball!"
Maya and Zoey continued to inspect the liquid in the workshop, using a magnifying glass and some toothpicks as their trusty tools.
"Check this out, Maya! When I push it slowly, it's all stretchy like taffy. But if I punch it, it's like trying to push through a wall!" Zoey exclaimed, showing the bizarre behavior of the gooey blob.
Maya nodded eagerly. "You're right, Zoey! This Ooey Gooey might be one of those non-Newtonian thingamajigs. It doesn't follow the rules like regular stuff!"
Zoey tilted her head curiously. She didn’t quite know what Maya meant by non-Newtonian - it was a big word that she hadn’t heard before. She asked Maya about it, and Maya promised her that she would explain after a few more experiments. She insisted on making sure that her hypothesis was right.
Their experiments became more daring by the minute. They jumped on it like a trampoline, tapped it gently like a drum, and even tried to mold it into different shapes to see what it would do next.
"This stuff's a trickster! It's as stubborn as a rock when we hit it, but as wobbly as jelly when we poke it gently," Zoey declared, eyes wide with wonder.
Maya grinned, "I think I was right about it being a non-Newtonian substance. Non-Newtonian substances are really cool, and they’re actually really easy to understand, despite their difficult name. It’s not like the things we're used to, which are usually either runny or firm. This gooey wonder can be both!"
Water is a Newtonian fluid, which means it stays in only one state of matter. It is only ever ice, water, or water vapor. However, some special materials don’t just stay in one state of matter. These mischievous materials - called non-Newtonian substances could be squishy one moment and solid the next, bending and becoming multiple states of matter.
Ooey Gooey ended up making a huge mess in the workshop, but it was totally worth it for the experiments Zoey and Maya conducted. Through these trials, they were able to explore non-Newtonian fluids and the fun they bring to the table!