In this article, we’re going to dive into a cool experiment involving a mixture of cornstarch and water, known as a non-Newtonian fluid. This experiment helps us understand how changes in frequency and amplitude affect the behavior of this unusual substance.
To start, we mix cornstarch and water and place it on a speaker. We use a high-speed camera to capture the fluid’s movements. The main goal is to see how different frequencies and amplitudes change the way the cornstarch mixture behaves.
At first, the cornstarch and water mixture acts like a regular liquid. But when we increase the amplitude, things get interesting. The fluid starts moving in strange ways, showing that its behavior is changing.
Next, we tweak the frequency to about 20 hertz, a number suggested by scientists for studying this kind of fluid. With a small increase in amplitude, we see some fascinating patterns forming, although they can be a bit random.
When we raise the frequency to around 22 hertz, the shapes become more defined, but the behavior is still unpredictable. At about 34 hertz, the fluid loses its shape and turns into a blob. Interestingly, at higher frequencies, the fluid looks smoother and more stable, suggesting that the cornstarch particles are too fast to settle down on the speaker.
To get why this cornstarch and water mixture behaves the way it does, we need to understand non-Newtonian fluids. This mixture is a suspension, where tiny cornstarch particles float in water. When the fluid moves slowly, the starch particles can slide past each other easily because the water helps them move.
However, when the fluid is moved quickly or shaken, the starch particles lock together, making it act more like a solid than a liquid.
Think of non-Newtonian fluids like traffic in a busy city. When there are few cars, traffic flows smoothly, just like how cornstarch particles move freely in water. But during rush hour, when there are more cars and they move faster, traffic jams happen, just like how the mixture turns solid-like under certain conditions.
Exploring non-Newtonian fluids with the cornstarch and water experiment shows us how frequency, amplitude, and particle behavior interact. Understanding these ideas not only helps us learn about fluid dynamics but also gives us insights into everyday things, like how traffic works.
Gather some cornstarch and water to create your own non-Newtonian fluid. Mix them together until you have a thick paste. Place the mixture on a speaker and observe how it behaves at different frequencies and amplitudes. Record your observations and compare them to what you learned in the article.
Make a chart that shows how the cornstarch mixture behaves at different frequencies and amplitudes. Use the data from your experiment or the article to fill in the chart. This will help you visualize how changes in these variables affect the fluid’s behavior.
Draw a diagram that illustrates the traffic analogy used in the article. Show how the movement of cars in traffic is similar to the behavior of cornstarch particles in water. Label the parts of your diagram to explain the analogy clearly.
Imagine a world where non-Newtonian fluids are everywhere. Write a short story about a character who discovers the unique properties of these fluids and uses them in creative ways. Include elements from the article, such as frequency and amplitude changes.
Suppose you need to buy materials for a class experiment. If cornstarch costs $2.50 per pound and you need 5 pounds, and water costs $0.10 per gallon and you need 2 gallons, calculate the total cost. Show your work using equations: $$text{Total Cost} = 5 times text{Cost per pound of cornstarch} + 2 times text{Cost per gallon of water}$$
Non-Newtonian – A type of fluid whose viscosity changes with the applied stress or force. – When you mix cornstarch and water, you create a non-Newtonian fluid that behaves differently when you punch it compared to when you stir it slowly.
Fluid – A substance that can flow and take the shape of its container, including liquids and gases. – Water is a fluid that flows easily and fills the shape of any container it is poured into.
Cornstarch – A fine, powdery substance made from corn, often used in cooking and science experiments to create non-Newtonian fluids. – In our science class, we mixed cornstarch with water to observe how it behaves like a solid under pressure.
Water – A clear, colorless liquid that is essential for life and is a common solvent in science experiments. – We used water to dissolve the salt and observe the process of crystallization as it evaporated.
Frequency – The number of times a wave repeats in one second, measured in hertz (Hz). – The frequency of a sound wave determines the pitch of the sound we hear.
Amplitude – The height of a wave from its rest position, which determines the wave’s energy or intensity. – The amplitude of the ocean waves increased during the storm, making them much taller.
Particles – Small units of matter that make up substances, such as atoms or molecules. – In a solid, particles are closely packed together and vibrate in place.
Behavior – The way in which matter acts or responds under certain conditions or forces. – The behavior of gases changes when they are heated, causing them to expand.
Experiment – A scientific procedure to test a hypothesis or observe phenomena under controlled conditions. – We conducted an experiment to see how different materials affect the speed of a rolling ball.
Dynamics – The study of forces and motion, and how they affect the movement of objects. – In physics, dynamics helps us understand how a car accelerates when the engine applies force to the wheels.
