![](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http://www.dartofscience.com/video/cornstarch-impact/&media=http://www.dartofscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cornstarch-impact1.jpg&description=<img class="alignleft wp-image-557 size-medium" src="http://www.dartofscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cornstarch-impact-300x168.jpg" alt="cornstarch impact" width="300" height="168" />The cornstarch and water mixture is what we essentially call a 'Non-Newtonian Fluid'. A
Newtonian fluid is one whose viscosity (or resistance to flow) depends only on temperature. A Non-Newtonian fluid is one where the viscosity can depend upon other factors apart from temperature.
One can imagine the scenario this way - while crossing an extremely busy street, if one tries to forcefully run their way through, chances are that they get pushed. The easiest way to cross the street is when one slowly maneuvers their way through the crowd. Something similar happens here.
Cornstarch is made of long chains of polymers linked together so that they behave like a crowd on the street. Applying impact, like throwing a ball at the mixture, will only cause it to become more viscous. This is exactly how quicksand works, which is why the smart thing to do when stuck in quicksand is not to struggle, since it will harden the fluid, but to very slowly try inching towards solid ground!
)
![](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=http://www.dartofscience.com/video/cornstarch-impact/&title=CORNSTARCH IMPACT&summary=<img class="alignleft wp-image-557 size-medium" src="http://www.dartofscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cornstarch-impact-300x168.jpg" alt="cornstarch impact" width="300" height="168" />The cornstarch and water mixture is what we essentially call a 'Non-Newtonian Fluid'. A
Newtonian fluid is one whose viscosity (or resistance to flow) depends only on temperature. A Non-Newtonian fluid is one where the viscosity can depend upon other factors apart from temperature.
One can imagine the scenario this way - while crossing an extremely busy street, if one tries to forcefully run their way through, chances are that they get pushed. The easiest way to cross the street is when one slowly maneuvers their way through the crowd. Something similar happens here.
Cornstarch is made of long chains of polymers linked together so that they behave like a crowd on the street. Applying impact, like throwing a ball at the mixture, will only cause it to become more viscous. This is exactly how quicksand works, which is why the smart thing to do when stuck in quicksand is not to struggle, since it will harden the fluid, but to very slowly try inching towards solid ground!
&source=http://www.dartofscience.com)
NOTICE BOARD
d’Art of Science partners with DFC 2017
Starting this year, d’Art of Science partners with DFC for promoting Hands-on/DIY Culture in Schools by starting a sub-award in the annual DFC Challenge. One school selected under the Best Prototype Award will get a chance to travel to Goa and develop their solution prototype in Goa with us. Over… READ MORE…
no comment