Non-Newtonian Fluid A mixture of corn starch and water is placed over a sub-woofer. Crazyness ensues. posted to science by Rabid_Weasle, Jan 28th, 2007
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I blame it solely on the vibrations caused by the subwoofer. Notice how he had to blow in the straw to get the effect going, and then it eventually settled again? The vibrations were just prolonging the same effect you get when you blow onto something like that.
Actually, if you tried if with a regular liquid it wouldn't work.
For those that don't know a Non-Newtonian liquid is a substance that displays the properties of a liquid and solid.
A good experiment to try at home is make some custard with a lot of starch in it and then pick it up. It will remain liquid. But if you pick it up and continually throw it between your hands it should form a semi-solid ball.
Watch the video of the guys running across the pool. That is non-newtonian liquid. When they run across it the impact from their steps keeps them above the surface, but when they stand still they sink.
Anyone in the UK, watch Brainiac. They did a similar experiment on there in series 2 i think it was.
Here's the deal: when not much force is put onto it, a Non-Newtonian fluid will act as a liquid, but if enough force is put onto it, it will act like a solid. The effect of the subwoofer was to rapidly put force upon it and then stop that force, like very rapidly switching a 'force' switch on and off.
milkyb, I saw that Braniac episode, or at least a similar one - they filled a swimming pool with custard and proved you could walk on it and not sink. The catch was you had to keep moving as only the molecules compressing provided enough surface tension to support a human, when the guy stopped he sank into a delicious yellow deathtrap.
Thats the one. And then he got stuck in it because the more force aplied to the liquid the more "solid" it became. So when it came to pulling him out the custard pulled back. :D
That's what gelatinous blobs from Dungeons and Dragons must be made of.
nerd.
I blame it solely on the vibrations caused by the subwoofer. Notice how he had to blow in the straw to get the effect going, and then it eventually settled again? The vibrations were just prolonging the same effect you get when you blow onto something like that.
Non Newtonian? Pah! Vibrations and resonance... that's physics at work!
Actually, if you tried if with a regular liquid it wouldn't work.
For those that don't know a Non-Newtonian liquid is a substance that displays the properties of a liquid and solid.
A good experiment to try at home is make some custard with a lot of starch in it and then pick it up. It will remain liquid. But if you pick it up and continually throw it between your hands it should form a semi-solid ball.
Watch the video of the guys running across the pool. That is non-newtonian liquid. When they run across it the impact from their steps keeps them above the surface, but when they stand still they sink.
Anyone in the UK, watch Brainiac. They did a similar experiment on there in series 2 i think it was.
I don't really understand the physics, but I do want to run across a pool of corn starch and water.
My ex-GF was a non-newtonian fluid
Here's the deal: when not much force is put onto it, a Non-Newtonian fluid will act as a liquid, but if enough force is put onto it, it will act like a solid. The effect of the subwoofer was to rapidly put force upon it and then stop that force, like very rapidly switching a 'force' switch on and off.
So it takes a Jedi to do this, or...?
Nah, I get it. That was actually what I was trying to say, but I'm not so good with words sometimes.
So, thanks milkyb and BiggerJ.
milkyb, I saw that Braniac episode, or at least a similar one - they filled a swimming pool with custard and proved you could walk on it and not sink. The catch was you had to keep moving as only the molecules compressing provided enough surface tension to support a human, when the guy stopped he sank into a delicious yellow deathtrap.
Thats the one. And then he got stuck in it because the more force aplied to the liquid the more "solid" it became. So when it came to pulling him out the custard pulled back. :D