teacher’s guide for: corn starch...

Contents: Quick Reference Sheets:

• Intro: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page2• Experiment:Make a Liquid That’s Also a Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page2• Demo:Corn Starch Monsters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page2• EquipmentList . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page3• Story,Part1:Jack & Jill and the Corn Starch Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page4• Story,Part2:(Right after Brainstorming) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page5• Story,Ending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page5

Video Transcript:• Intro: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page6• Story,Part1:Jack & Jill and the Corn Starch Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . .page6• Story,Part2:(Right after Brainstorming) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page9• Experiment:Make a Liquid That’s Also a Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page9• Demo:Corn Starch Monsters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page11• StoryEnding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page12

Teacher’s Guide for:

Corn Starch MonstersNote: All activities in this document should be performed with adult supervision. Likewise, common sense and care are essential to the conduct of any and all activities, whether described in this document or otherwise. Parents or guardians should supervise children. Rock-it Science assumes no responsibility for any injuries or damages arising from any activities.

Note: All activities in this document should be performed with adult supervision. Likewise, common sense and care are essential to the conduct of any and all activities, whether described in this document or otherwise. Parents or guardians should supervise children. Rock-it Science assumes no responsibility for any injuries or damages arising from any activities.

CornStarchMonstersARock-itScienceLessonFilmedJuly,2009

Title Page of Video

NOTE: This is the transcript of a lesson that was videotaped during an actual Rock-it Science class with real students, not actors. The students’ brainstorming comments are included on the video but are not transcribed here because they’re not part of the lesson presentation.

Rock-it Science2110 Walsh Ave, Unit FSanta Clara, CA 95050www.rockitscience.org

(c) 2012 Rock-it Science Educationally Useful Programs. All Rights Reserved

http://www.rockitscience.com/

Rock-it Science Teacher’s Guide Corn Starch Monsters --

Intro Quick Recap:Lesson Intro:

• Askstudentsiftheyaresolidorliquid .• IsaacNewtonplayedaroundwithstuffthatsometimesactslikeasolidandsometimeslikealiquid--“non-Newtonianfluids .”

• We’regoingtomakeamonsteroutofoneofthesefluids .

Experiment/Demo Quick Recap:Experiment: Make a Liquid that’s also a Solid

• GiveeachstudentaPlasticCup .Add2tablespoonsofCornStarchand1tablespoonofWater .

• Studentsstirwaterandcornstarchthoroughly .• Studentspourmixtureoutontothetable .• Blowonthepuddletotrytomakewaves,likealiquid .• Makeafistandhitthepuddletoseehowitactslikeasolid .• Pushacraftstickthroughthepuddletobreakoffapiece .• Pushafingerslowlythroughthepuddle .• Movethecraftstickinafigureeighttogatherupthemixture,thenletitdrooloffagain .

• Usethecraftsticktogatherupthemixtureandputitbackinthecup .

Demo: Make Monsters with Vibrations

• Inalargeplasticcontainer,combine2scoopsofCornStarchand1scoopofWaterandmixthor-oughly .

• Attachseveralclearplasticcupstoavibratingmachine,putvaryingamountsofthemixtureineachone,andcoloreachonewithdifferentfoodcolorings .

• Turnonthemachine,whichonlyhasonespeed,andletstudentstouchittofeelthevibrationsandseehowthecornstarchmixturemovesaroundin-sidethecups .

• Attachsomeplasticcupstoashakingtable,whichhasvariablespeed,andputvaryingamountsofthemixtureintoeachcup .

• Turnonthetableandincreasethespeedofvibrationtoseehowitmakesthecornstarchmoveinsidethecups .

• Addoneortwomarblestoeachcup(optional)alongwiththemixture .

Stirring the Corn Starch Mixture

Shaking Table.


Equipment List: “Corn Starch Monsters”Items needed for Instructor:

• Pipette• 9@12-ozclearPlasticCups• LargePlasticContainertomixcornstarch&water

• 2cupsCornstarch• 1cupWater• LargeMetalSpoonforstirring• VibratingMetalPolishingMachinewith5@12-ozclearplas-ticcupsattachedtothetop .

• 2ShakingTableswith3@12-ozclearplasticcupsscrewedontoeachonewithascrew&washer

• 2DCPowerSupplies• 4InsulatedcableswithAlligatorClips• 2Extensioncords• Marbles,Assortedsizes(about10-20)• Washupcloths• PaperTowelsforcleanup

Items needed for Students:

Consumables (per student):

• CornStarch,2tbsp• 6-ozplasticcup• Water,1tbsp• FoodColoring,afewdrops(optional)• CraftStickOther:

• None

Prep Work:

• Attachplasticcupstovibratingma-chineandshakingtable .

• Makecornstarchmixtureinseveralcolorsandputitinthecupsonthevibratingmachine .

Story Recap: “Jack & Jill and the Corn Starch Lake”


Part 1:

• Jack&Jillliveinaplacewhereeveryonegrowscorn .• Alotofthecornwenttowastebecauseitgotripetoofastoritwasn’tripeenough,sotheyjustthrewitawayorfedittothecows .

• EvilMistercalledameetingandtoldpeoplehe’dmakethemrichiftheydidwhathesaid .• Hetoldthemtogrowtheircorn,butnotsellit .Instead,theyputitallinEvilMisterFred’sbuild-ing .

• EvilMisterFredtoldeveryonetodanceonthecornuntilabunchofwhitestuffsquishedout .• Hetookthewhitestuff,driedit,putitintoamachinethatturneditintopowder,andsolditascornstarch .

• Atfirst,hesolditatsuchalowpricethatalltheothercornstarchsellerswentoutofbusiness .• Whenhewastheonlysellerleft,hestartedraisinghispriceoverandoverandmadelotsofmoneyforeveryone .

• Afterawhile,thecornstarchinhisbinsgotwormy,andtheHealthDepartmenttoldhimhecouldn’tsellit .

• Hedidn’tknowhowtodisposeofit,sohepoureditintoanemptylakebedandbulldozeditniceandflat .Hethoughtitwouldbeokaytherebecauseithadn’trainedinalongtime .

• Butthenitstartedtorain,andthecornstarchgotmoldy .Itsmelledsobadthatbirdsflyingoverdiedfromthesmell .

• ThemayortoldEvilMisterFredtogetridofit,butherefused .SohewenttoJackandJill .• Jack&Jillsaidtheyhadaplantomakemoneyoffthelake .

Part 2 of the story is told right after the Brainstorming, but before the experiment. See next page.)

Story Recap (cont.)


Ending:

• JackandJillorganizedacontestwherepeoplewouldraceacrossthelakeusinganythingtheywanted--canoes,motorboats,rollerskates,pogosticks,orjustrunorswim .

• EvilMisterFredsenthisminionsouttohittheothercontestantswiththeirbaseballbatssotheminionswouldbetheonlyoneslefttowin .

• JackandJillweredoingokayontheirpogosticks,buttheguysincanoeshadahardtimepad-dling .

• Thentheminionsattacked,anditlookedliketheywouldwin .• Thenanearthquakebegan,andtheshakingmadethecornstarchcrawlupoutofthelakewithbighands .

• Thecornstarchmonstersstartedeatingalltheminions .• JackandJillusedtheirpogostickstobouncefromonemonsterheadtoanother,allthewaytotheFinishline .

Part 2:

• Jack&Jillbuildbleachersallaroundthelakebed .• TheycalledinallthemediaandtheGoodYearblimp .• TheyputaStartlineatoneendofthelakeandaFinishlineattheotherend .• TheyputapileofgoldneartheFinishline .


Transcript: Introduction We’regoingtodosomechemistryexperimentsfirst,andoneofthemisakindofchemicalthatsome-timesactslikeasolidandsometimesactslikealiquid .Now,doyousupposeyouguysaresolidsorliquids?[Students: Solid. Liquid. Solid, liquid, and gas.]Ah,that’sgood--you’resolid,liquid,andgas .There’sgasinyourlungs .There’sspitinyourmouth,that’sliquid .Andyou’vegotsolidbonesandsolidflesh .Usuallytheysayit’saliquidifyoucanpourit,orifyousetitonsomethinganditturnsitselfintoapuddle .Soyoucantakesomethinglikeagluestick,andagluestickisasolid,butifitgetshotenough,itmeltsandbecomesaliquid .Andgasesjustkindofgowherevertheywanttogo .

Therearesomekindsofthingsthatsometimesactlikesolidsandsometimesactlikeliquids .Youcanpourthem,putifyouhitthemtheyactlikeasolid .AndtherewasaguynamedIsaacNewtonwhoplayedaroundwiththisjunk .Sotheycalltheseliquids“non-Newtonian”fluids .Kindofweirdstuff .We’regoingtoseeifwecandoanykindofmagicandstuffoutofit .Ideally,wewouldliketomakeamonsteroutofit .Amonsterhastokindofhaveitsownideasofwhatit’sgoingtodo .Itdoesn’tobeywhatwesay .Butfirstweneedacrazystory .

Story: “Jack & Jill and the Corn Starch Lake”Onceuponatime,EvilMisterFredmovedintoasmalltownoutinthemiddleoftheplacewheretheygrowstuff .Andthestuffthatthey’regrowingiscorn .Andcorngrowsniceandtall,andithasears .Doescornhaveeyes?Doesithaveanose?Doesithavehair?Yeah,corndoeshavesomekindofhairylookingstuffonthetop .Andit’sgottheears .Andit’sgot--doesithaveteeth?Haveyoueverrubbedyourhandontheedgeofacornleaf?Yeah,ithurts .It’sgotteeth .

Sothere’sallkindsofcorngrowingoutthere,thousandsandthousandsofacresofcorn .AndEvilMisterFredsawthatthepeopleweregrowingthecorn,they’dpickthecorn,andthey’dsellitandpeoplewouldeatit .Butalotofthecornwenttowastebecauseitgottooripetoofast,oritwasn’tripeearlyenough,andtheyjustthrewitawayorgaveittothecows .Andhesaid,“Ha!Thisisperfect .”AndEvilMisterFredbuilt

ahugebuildingoutthere,andhecalleditEvilMisterFred’sMoneyOpportunities .Itwasabigemptybuilding,andpeoplecamearoundandsaid,“Wow,yousurebuiltabigbuilding .Whatareyougoingtodowithit?”AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Wellthat’suptoyou .IthinkifyoucomeherenextSaturdaynight,we’llhaveabigmeetingandI’lltellyouwhatwe’regoingtodo .”Thepeoplebecameandverycuriousandwon-dered,“What’shegoingtodo?”

Soabunchofpeopleallshowedup,JackandJillamongstthem,andEvilMisterFredsaid,“Whatdoyoupeoplemakeinayear?”Oneguyssays,“Why,I’mpracticallyrich--Imaketendollarsayear .”Andanotherguysaid,“Oh,Imakemorethanthat .Imakeahundreddollarsayear .”AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Well,howwouldyouliketomakeahundredthousanddollarsayear?”Andtheyallsaid,“Yeah,that’dbegreat!”AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Andyoudon’thavetochangeanything .JustgrowyourcornlikeusualanddowhatItellyou,andyou’llmakeahundredthousanddollarsayear .”Every-

Evil Mister Fred’s Money Opportunities


bodywascheeringandsaying,“Yeah,thisisgreat--welovethisguy!We’regoingtoberich!”AndJackandJillwerestandingbacktheresaying,“Whatisheupto?YouneverknowwiththatEvilMisterFred .”AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Okay,firstthingis,youhavetopromisetodoeverythingItellyoutodo .”Andtheyallsaid,“Yeah,we’lldowhateveryousay .That’llwork,aslongasyoumakeusrich .”

Andhewaiteduntileverybody’scornwasallripeandreadytosell .Andhesays,“Okay,you’renotgo-ingtosellyourcorn .”Andtheysaid,“What?Howarewegoingtogetrichifwedon’tsellourcorn?”Hesaid,“Trustme .Justpickallyourcornandputitinmybigbuilding .”Andtheysaid,“Oh,boy,thissoundsrisky .”Buttheydid .Theypickedallthecornandputitinthebuilding .Andthenonedayheinvitedeverybodyover .Thecornwassittingthere,itwastooripetosellanymore,andtheythought,“Oh,no,thisguytrickedus,nowwe’regoingtobepoor .”Hesays,“Okay,folks,takeallthecorn,takeallthegreenstuffofftheoutside .”Youknowit’sgotleaves,greenkindofstuffontheoutside .“Takeallthegreenstuffofftheoutside .”Andtheydidthat .Hesays,“Now,takeoffallthekernels .”Hehadthismachinetotakeallthekernelsoff .Hesaid,“Puttheminthisgreatbigtub .Nowputonsomenicecleanshoes .”Theysaid,“What?Cleanshoes?Whatarewegoingtodowithcleanshoes?”Andhesays,“It’sobvious,isn’tit?You’regoingtodanceonthecorn .”Andtheysaid,“Oh,boy,thisguy’snuttierthanafruitcake .”Buteverybodysaid,“Well,aslongashe’sgotmusic,we’lldanceonthecorn .”Sotheyalldancedonthecorn,squishy,squishy,squishy,squishy,squishy--andthiswhitestuffgooshedoutofthecorn .Andhecollectedallthestuffthattheydancedon,squeezedoutallthewhitestuffwithapress,andsaid,“Now,youguyscangohomeandrelax,andyou’regoingtoberich .”Theysaid,“What?”AndEvilMisterFredtookallthewhitestuff,driedit,putitintoamachinethatturneditintopowder,andthepowdertheysellascornstarch .Youcanfinditinstores .

Andpeoplesaid,“Hey!He’sprettysmart .Heactuallyusedallofourcorn,turneditintocornstarch,nowhecansellitallyearlong .”AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Yep,yep,yep .”Andhestartedsellingcornstarchatacheaperpricethananybodyelse .Andpeoplewerebuyinghiscornstarchlikecrazy .Theothercornstarchcompaniesallwentoutofbusinessbecausetheycouldn’taffordtoselltheirsatsuchacheapprice .AndafterEvilMisterFredhadeverybodybuyingjusthisEvilMisterFredbrandcornstarch,thenhestartedraisingtheprice .Firstitwasonepennyabox .Thenheraisedittotwopenniesabox,andpeopledidn’tcomplain .Sothenhemadeitfourpenniesabox .Theythought,“Well,it’sstillagreatdeal .”Andthenitwaseightpennies,andthensixteenpennies,andthenthirty-twopennies,andthenitbecamesixty-fourpennies,andthenahundredandtwenty-eightpennies .Everyfewweekshejustdoubledtheprice,untilprettysoonthepriceofaboxofcornstarchwasahundredandtwenty-eightdollars .Andpeoplesaid,“Waitaminute!Itdidn’tusedtocostahundredandtwenty-eightdollarsforaboxofcornstarch .”AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Yeah,that’strue .Butitdoesnow .”Andtheycouldn’tgetitanywhereelse,becauseeverybodyelsewasoutofbusiness .

Andthepeoplethatprovidedthecorn,EvilMisterFredgavethemalotofmoney,andtheyfeltrich .AndEvilMisterFredwastherichestofall .Hehadahugeamountofmoney .Hebuilthimselfabigmansion,putintenniscourts,swimmingpools,gothimselfalimousine,servants,bodyguards,whichofcoursewereminionswithbaseballbats .Lotsofminions .[Stu-dent: Draw them skinny and tall.]Oh,thatwouldbefunny,

Evil Mister Fred’s Mansion


wouldn’tit--atallskinnyminion,likethat .AndeverybodywashappybecauseEvilMisterFredwasmakingthemrich .AndJacksaid,“Iwonderwherethisisgoingtogo?”

Well,nottoolongafterthat,EvilMisterFredsaid,“Ineedsomemorecornstarchinthisplace .”Andhisminionssaid,“Boss,there’ssomethingwrongwithourcornstarch .”Hesaid,“Likewhat?”Andoneoftheminionstookaboxandbitthelidoff .Andinsidetherewascornstarch,buttherewasalsoagazillionlittlewhitebugscrawlingaround,littlewormy-lookingthings .AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Oh,that’sokay .Extraprotein .Justgoaheadandsellit .”

Andpeoplestoppedbuyinghiscornstarchbecausetherewerewormsinit,andprettysoontheHealthDepartmentshowedup .Andtheysaid,“Youcan’tsellthat .It’sfullofworms .Aw,that’sgross!”AndEvilMisterFredhadnochoice .Hetookallthecornstarchthatwasinhisbuildingandhesaid,“WhatamIgoingtodowiththis?Ifitthrowitdownthesewer,I’llgetintrouble .”Andhefoundanolddrylakebedoutthere,usedtobealakeyearsandyearsago,andhefileditupwithcornstarch .Andhesays,“There .Ithasn’trainedthereinalongtime .It’llbefine .”Theybulldozeditallniceandflat .

Well,asluckwouldhaveit,nextdayitstartedtorain .Abigpurplecloudshowedup,anditstartedtorainpicklesandmeatballs,[Student: And red and blue food coloring.]andredandbluefoodcoloring,andwater,andsnow,andhail,andice,[Student: And corn.]andcorn .Andprettysoonthedrylakebedwasn’tdryanymore .Thecornstarchgotallwet,andtherewasallthisstuffinthere,anditstartedtogetmoldy .Afteritgotallmoldy,therewerespotsofitthatturnedgreen .Therewerespotsofitthatturnedyellow .Therewerespotsofitthatturnedbrown,purple,anditstartedtosmellreallybad .Anditsmelledsobadthatsomebirdswereflyingoverhead,andthesmellcameuponthemandthebirdswent,“Acchh,

phew,acchh!”--pshewwww,crash--anddied .Sonowthere’sdeadbirdyfeethangingout .Anditmadeitevensmellworse .Andthesmellwassobad,itranacrossthetown .Andeverybodyhadgoodmoneythere,butitstunksobadtheycouldn’tgooutside .Andthemayorofthetownsaid,“EvilMisterFred,you’vegottocleanthatup .It’sabigmess .”Andhesaid,“No .”Andthemayorsays,“Youhaveto .”Andhesaid,“No .”AndthemayorwenttoJackandJillandsaid,“JackandJill,EvilMisterFredhascreatedahugedisasteroutthere .Itsmellssobad,birdsevendie .”JackandJillsaid,“Hmm .Maybethere’ssomewaywecanmakemoneyoffofthis .”Themayorsaid,“Moneyoffofalakethatstinks?How?”JackandJillsaid,“I’vegotaplan .”NowifyouwereJackandJill,andyouhadastinky,stinkylake,whatwouldyoudo?

The Rain made the Corn Starch in the Lake Bed get Moldy.

Dead Birdie Feet sticking up out of the Lake.


Experiment: Make a Liquid that’s Also a SolidNow,we’regoingtoexperimentwithcornstarch .Todoourexperiment,you’lleachgetacupandwe’llputascoopofcornstarchinthere,andascoopofwater .Andyou’regoingtostiritallupwithapopsiclestick .Andthenwe’llputinadropoffoodcoloringsoyoucanmakesureit’sallmixedcompletely .Andafterit’sallmixedup,we’llexperimentwiththestuff .Sothefirstpartis,wejustneedcups .You’llgetalevelscoopofcornstarchinyourcup .Whenyougetyourcornstarch,youcanstickyourfingerinthereandseewhatitfeelslike .[Instructors pass out plas-tic cups and craft sticks, then add corn starch and water. Students mix it up.]Stirallthewaydowntothebottom,diginalittlebit .Digdownintothecorners .[Instructors examine each student’s mixture and add a little bit more water if needed.]Itshouldfeelkindofrubbery .

Canyoumakeyourstickgoslowlyincirclesinthestuff?Afteryougetyourssoyourstickwillslowlygoinacircle,we’lldoatestwithit .Afteryouthinkyoursismixed,holdyourcupupintheairandturnitupsidedownandseeifitwilldroolout .Wewantalmostallofittodroolout .Ifyouseestuffstuckinthebottomofyourcup,raiseyourhandandwe’llgiveyousomemorewater .[Stu-dents pour out their corn starch mixture onto the table.]

Imagination and Brainstorming Time[Students make suggestions](THEREARENOWRONGANSWERS!Whatevertheysay,youshouldreply:“That’sagoodidea,”“Theymightdothat,”etc .Afterbrainstorming,proceedwiththeexperi-ments,thenfinishthestory .)

Andwe’regoingtoleavethis“Tobecontinued . . .”

Part 2:

Well,JackandJillbuiltseats--theycallthembleachers--allaroundthecornstarch .Therewerebenchesandbenchesandbenchesandbenches,andtherewereseatsthere,andthereweresomeouthere .AndtheycalledtheGoodYearblimptocome,theytoldallthetvstationsandtheradiostationsandtheinternetstationstheyweregoingtohaveaspecialeventthere .Andtheyputalineonthissidethatsaid“Start .”Andtheyputalineonthissidethatsaid“Finish .”Andtheyborrowedahugepileofgold,andtheyputthepileofgoldhere .Andthat’s

howwe’regoingtoleaveourstorybeforewedoourexperiment .We’llleavethisToBeContinued . . .

Bleachers around the Lake.

Stirring the Corn Starch Mixture

Making it Drool Out of the Cup.


Ifyouhaveyoursonthetable,putyourfaceclosetoitandblowreallyhardonitandseeifyoumakewaves .Okay,soit’sactinglikealiquid .

Nowmakeafistwithyourhandandgowham,wham,wham,andhitithard .Nowit’sactinglikeasolid .

Nowtakeyourstickandquicklyrunitrightthroughthecenterandseeifitbreaksoffachunk .

Nowtakeyourfingerandletitslowwwlygothroughthepuddle .Slowly,slowly,slowly,slow-ly .Andkeepgoing .

Soitactslikeasolid,itactslikealiquid .Now,there’satrickyoucandowithapopsiclestick--oh,Sandy’salreadydoingit .Ifyoutakeyoursticklike[student]has,andyouslowlypushsidewaysandyoukindofgowiggly-woggly,makelikefigureeights,youcanpickupthestickandgetallofitonthestickandthenletitdrooloff .Hereitcomes--ahh,splat!Soseeifyoucanpickyoursuponthestickandletitdrooloffandseeifanyofitbouncesonthetableordoesanythingweird .

Nowtrytocatchallofitonyourstickandputitbackinyourcup .

Making Waves Hit it with a Fist.

Push the Stick through.

Push Finger Slowly.

Make a Figure 8

Drool off Stick.

Put it back in the Cup.


Demo: Corn Starch MonstersHere’stwoscoopsofthesamecornstarchyouguyswerejustusing .Here’sonescoopofwater .Andwe’llstiritup .Now,ifyougoontheinternetandyoulookupcornstarchandvibrations,therearevideosaboutit .Andtheytookcornstarchlikethisandtheygluedittoaspeaker,youknow,aspeakerlikeastereospeakerorahi-fispeaker .Andtheyturnedonthesound,andthey’dmakeitplayaconstantnote,andyoucouldseethevibrationsinthecornstarch .Andtheytookastrawandtheyblewitrightatthesurfaceofthecornstarchandmakeaholeinthecornstarch .Andtheholejustsatthereaftertheystoppedblowing .Theholedidn’tgoaway .Andthenheblewanotherholenexttothefirsthole .Andthetwoholeswouldgoalittleapart,andthey’dcometogeth-er,andthey’ddancearoundeachother .AndIthought,“Okay,wellthat’scool .”Itriedit,andsureenough,thatworked .ButthenIwonderedwhatwouldhappenifyouusedbiggervibrations .SoIturnedthestereoonhigherandhigheruntilitburnedoutthespeaker .Anditstartedtovibrateprettygood .Itwasjuststartingtoactcoolwhenthespeakerburnedout .SoIthought,“Well,okay,howamIgoingtogetbigvibrations?”IcouldcalltheBeachBoys .Butno .

Mybrotherdonatedthisthing,andit’sjustamachinethatvibratesmetalpartswithabunchofdirtkindofstuffinthere,anditmakesthemkindofsmoothonthecorners .Andifyouturniton--itonlyhasonespeed,it’seitheronorit’soff--youturnitonandthecornstarchstartsmovingaround .There’sdifferentamountsineachcup .IfItapyouontheshoulder,youwalkbyhereandyouputyourhandsonthisandseewhatitfeelslike,thenwalkallthewayaroundandgobacktowhereyoustarted .[Students take turns placing their hands on the vibrating device to feel the vibrations.]

Now,weuseashakingtabletocreatesmallearthquakeswhenwe’retestinglittlebuildingsandthings .Whatwe’regoingtodoisbeabletochangethespeedofthevibrations .Thisislikeabatterypack,butyoucanusedifferentamountsofbatteries .Andwecanturnonthepower,andwecanmakeitgoslow,orwecangofaster .Sonowwecantryalldifferentspeedswiththisthingandseewhathappens .Now,I’mgoingtoturnthis

oneonanddroolsomegoointothecupsasit’svibrating .Let’spoursomeinthesecupsandseewhatitdoes .We’llputmoreinonecupthantheothers .Let’sseewhathappensifweturniton .[Instructor pours mixture into plastic cups attached to shaking table and varies the speed of vibration. Corn starch mixture writhes around and as the speed increases, some of it is thrown out of the cup.]I’mgoingtoputamarbleinhere .[Instructor puts one or two marbles of various sizes in each cup. The marbles get mixed around in the corn starch.]

Mix a Larger Batch.

Feeling the Vibrations.

Shaking Table.


End of Lesson

If y0u have questions about this lesson, please ask them through the online Teacher Support Forum on our web site.

EvilMisterFredcreatedadisaster .AndJackandJillbuiltbleachersaroundit,anditsmelledsobadthatbirdsdied .AndtheyputaStartandaFinishandapileofgold .Andtheysaid,“We’regoingtohaveacontest .We’regoingtoseewhocanraceacrossthatthefastest .Andmaybethey’lltakecanoes,maybethey’llusemotorboats,maybethey’lluserocket-poweredrollerskates .Maybethey’llusepogosticks .Maybethey’lljustrunontippy-toestogetacrossit .Theycouldswimacrossit .”AndeverybodywaslineduphereattheStartingline,andallthebleacherswerefilledwithpeople,theGoodYearblimpwasflyingoverhead--thisistheBadYearblimp--allofthethingwasbeingbroadcast,peoplewerepayingthousandsofdollarsjusttowatchtheseguysjumpintothestinkiest,smelliest,rottenest,horribleststuffonthewholeplanet,andtoseeiftheycouldmakeitallthewayacross .Thiswasrealitytvatitsbest .Andtheywerewillingtodoittoseewhowasgoingtowinthepileofgold .

AndJackandJillwereoutthere,andtheyhadpogosticks .AndEvilMisterFredsentallhisminionsoutthere,andtheyhadbaseballbats .Andwhattheyweregoingtodowasrunoutthereandhiteverybodywiththeirbaseballbats,andthentheycouldwinbecausethere’dbenobodyleftbutthem,andEvilMis-terFredwouldgetallthegold .

Sotheguysfiredthestartinggun-Bang!Everybodystartedgoing--swimming,jumping,bouncing,anywaytheycould .JackandJillweredoinggreatontheirpogosticks,becauseeverytimetheyhit,thecornstarchwouldhardenupjustlikeasolid .Theguysinthecanoesstartedtopaddle,buttheysaid,“Ohhh,man,it’sreallyhardtopaddlethesecanoes .”Andtheminionswerejustgoingwhack,whack,whack,whack,whack,likethat,hittingallthesepeople .AndJackandJillsaid,“Oh,no,lookwhattheminionsaredoing!They’rejusthittingpeople .That’snotfair!”AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Sureitis .They’rewinning,aren’tthey?”AndtheminionsweregettingaheadofJackandJill .AndJackandJillsaid,“Oh,no,we’regoingtolose .EvilMisterFred’sgoingtogetallthemoney,andwe’regoingtobestuck .”And

rightatthatpoint,therewasahugeearthquake,andthegroundwasshaking,peopleinthestandsweresaying,“Cool,Ilikethis!”Andthecornstarchstartedtocrawlupoutofthelakeandformhugehandslikethis .Itwasmovingallaround .Andthecornstarchwasgoingaftertheminionsandeatingoneminionaftertheother .AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Nooo!”AndJackandJillwerebounc-ingontopofthemonstersgoingboing,boing,boing,frommonsterheadtomonsterhead .AndJackandJillmadeitacrosstheFinishlinefirst,andtheminionswereeatenbythecornstarch .AndtheyalllivedhappilyeverafterexcepttheminionsandEvilMisterFred .

End of Story * DO NOT * present this part of the lesson until after the experiments!

The Bad Year Blimp

The Corn Starch grew huge Hands.

http://rockitscience.com/wordpress/forums/forum/teachersupport/

http://rockitscience.com/wordpress/forums/forum/teachersupport/

teacher’s guide for: corn starch...

Documents