Make: Online : A pool filled with non-newtonian fluid

A pool filled with non-newtonian fluid

Ok, we might need to do this for the next Maker Faire... Alesis69 writes - "They filled a pool with a mix of cornstarch and water with a concrete mixer truck. It becomes a "non-newtonian fluid". When stress is applied to the liquid it exhibits properties of a solid. Recorded at Barcelona, Spain..." [via] - Link.

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: isnoop on November 14, 2006 at 12:53 AM

That kinda loks like Bre!

10" kiddie pools are $15 this time of year. Now I just need to figure out where to get 100lbs of starch...

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Posted by: jovino on November 14, 2006 at 2:35 AM

Oh my. How much fun is this?!

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Posted by: SteveClemson on November 14, 2006 at 5:16 AM

This was done on a UK 'science' program called "Brainiac" a while ago - using a swimming pool and custard powder (I'm assuming that custard powder is available in the US of A and not just here in Blighty!)

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Posted by: PockyBum522@gmail.com on November 14, 2006 at 6:52 AM

That is so cool :D

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Posted by: abbtech on November 14, 2006 at 6:57 AM

LOL very cool, here are some more cool vids
http://hackedgadgets.com/2006/09/29/shaken-cornstarch-grows-fingers/

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Posted by: supertim on November 14, 2006 at 7:57 AM

This class of non-Newtonian fluids is called dilatant fluids, and it's the same kind of fluid as Silly Putty.

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Posted by: j3ss on November 14, 2006 at 11:45 AM

My dad (a physicist) taught me about cornstarch and water when I was a kid. I grew up playing with this crazy shit... but I never thought I would see anything as cool as a POOL FILLED WITH IT.

I agree, that guy has an eerie resemblance to Bre, haha.

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Posted by: mikiex on November 14, 2006 at 1:15 PM

Its fun just to make a bowl of corn starch mixed with water, hit it and goes solid - squeeze it it goes solid.

be careful if you do this on a large scale - its not nice to get stuck in

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Posted by: JHoughton on November 15, 2006 at 6:46 AM

Two 50# bags of cornstarch from a food products supplier. That part's easy. Getting rid of the Oobleck afterwards is a bit of a pain.
N.B. Don't try to run it down the drain. It didn't really work with the hotel bathtub full that I was involved with. Turns out it doesn't decompose quickly when left outside, either.

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Posted by: Shadyman on November 15, 2006 at 9:25 AM

Hah! That's great.

I want one!

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Posted by: erueti on June 7, 2007 at 3:55 AM

What! No cartwheel? For shame!

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