Have you ever heard of something called “oobleck”? It might sound like a made-up word, but it’s actually a fascinating material! Oobleck is a special kind of goop that can act like both a solid and a liquid. This makes it a “non-Newtonian fluid,” which is a fancy way of saying it doesn’t behave like most materials we know.
Today, let’s explore how ordinary materials, like water, behave in unusual environments. We all know that materials are made of matter and usually come in three forms: solid, liquid, or gas. Each material has properties, like color, weight, and boiling point, which help us understand them better.
For example, water is a liquid that is clear and boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level. This is how water behaves in normal places, like your kitchen or a picnic table. But what happens when water is in a not-so-normal place, like a tall mountain or even space?
Imagine climbing a tall mountain like Mt. Everest with a glass of water. At sea level, water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. But on top of a mountain, the air pressure is lower, so water boils at just 71 degrees Celsius! This is because less pressure means the water molecules are not held together as tightly, making it easier for them to turn into gas.
Now, let’s take that glass of water to space, where things get even more extreme. Space is a vacuum, meaning there’s no air and very low pressure. You might think water would freeze because space is so cold, but it actually boils instantly due to the lack of pressure. After boiling, the water vapor quickly freezes into ice crystals because of the cold.
This interesting process also happens with astronauts’ pee! When released into space, it boils, turns into vapor, and then freezes into tiny ice crystals. So, watch out for flying pee in space!
As we’ve learned, ordinary materials like water can behave in surprising ways when placed in unusual environments. Changes in pressure and temperature can dramatically alter a material’s properties, like its boiling point, and even change its state of matter. Who knew a simple glass of water could do so many amazing things?
Make Your Own Oobleck: Gather some cornstarch and water to create your own oobleck at home. Mix one cup of cornstarch with half a cup of water in a bowl. Use your hands to mix it until it feels like a gooey paste. Try poking it quickly and then slowly. What do you notice? Discuss with your friends or family how oobleck behaves like both a solid and a liquid.
Water Boiling Experiment: With the help of an adult, try boiling water at home and observe what happens. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature when it starts to boil. Then, imagine you are on a tall mountain. Discuss how the boiling point would change and why. Draw a picture of what you think water boiling on a mountain might look like.
Space Adventure Story: Write a short story about a trip to space with a glass of water. What happens to the water when you pour it out in space? Use your imagination to describe the journey of the water as it boils and turns into ice crystals. Share your story with your class or family and talk about why these changes happen.
