Sunday 21 October 2012

Step by Step how to make Corn Flour Slime

Like the slime and the make your own polymer this is another non-Newtonian fluid to play with.
 
 
Non-Newtonian because it doesn't follow Newton law's of liquid which stated individual liquids flow at consistent, predictable rates.  You will find that this liquid behaves very differently and this time it is a science experiment for everyone, including the smallest of hands!

What you will need is probably everything you already have in the house, which is:
  • An Apron (maybe even one for the person supervising if doing this with a very young child)
  • Corn flour
  • Water
  • A cup or small jug
  • An 8" cake tin or something similar - a clean empty ice cream tub would do
What you will need to do:

Take it slowly.

STEP ONE

Pour 4 heaped tablespoons of corn flour in your cake tin (or whatever container you've decided to use)  allow for time to feel the corn flour before you do anything else.


 
STEP TWO
 
Then add some water...

 
 
Just a little mind I put 20ml of water in a cup so Harmonie had the freedom to pour it in herself.  Then to get really messy use your fingers to stir it in.  What do you notice?
 
 

 
It goes very crumbly. 
 
STEP THREE
Now add a bit more water about 30ml this time.  You can add this to the cup again if you like, after all children like to have as much independence as possible.
 
 
Of course others it's good when others can join in the fun too!

 
The consistency should be runnier now but this stuff is like magic!
 
 
Things to try...
 
You can make it into a ball shape like the photo above and then wait and it will run because, after all, it is a liquid behaving like a solid; it does this because it is a suspension and will never hold it's shape. 
 
The science behind it is that it is a suspension, basically meaning that the corn flour has not dissolved in the water but are suspended and are spread out in the water.  Which is why when you leave the ball to settle it will run like the liquid it is.

 
 
STEP FOUR
 
Add some more water, we added another 40ml - 50ml of water this time and...
 
 
 
You get some serious messy play!  Harmonie loved it.  You could add some food colouring but then you have a chance of things getting stained so I prefer to keep it natural, especially when letting 2 year old loose on the stuff. 
 
It is a basic, well known experiment, however there is a lot of science to learn from it as you can see and is suitable for any age.

We also made some art with it too.  Click here to see what we done.

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