The first question which can cross our minds would be, what exactly is an oobleck? Oobleck is nothing but a fluid made from cornflour and water that temporarily thickens or solidifies when a force is applied. It is a non-Newtonian fluid that has properties of both liquids and solids. Slowly dip your hand into it like a liquid, and once you squeeze the oobleck or punch it, it will feel solid.
The unique character of an oobleck is that the harder you hit it along with a great speed, the stronger it will become. Experiments have been carried out with smaller and bigger calibers because smaller ones are easier to stop and faster than the bigger ones.
Let us explore the article further and check the exciting experiments with oobleck.
What happens when a bullet is shot through oobleck?
Oobleck is not capable of stopping every caliber bullet. If we go by the experiments, it is seen that a bullet makes its way through the oobleck. Thus, this mixture does not stop every shot fired.
Which bullets make their way through oobleck?
- 9 mm
When 9 mm shot through a canik tp9 SFX, the bullet made its way through, and the mixture started oozing.
- 45 ACP-
45 ACP is not any faster than the 9 mm but is a bigger and slower bullet, and the oobleck cannot stop it either.
Which caliber bullets can the oobleck stop?
As seen in the experiments conducted, the oobleck stops the shot from a;
- 22m long rifle-
But here, conditions play an essential role because had the oobleck been kept in a plastic tub, it would have made its way through.
- ACP 44 magnum-
The bullet does not make its way out of the metal tub.
- 556-
No exit point was noticed.
- 762 by 39-
When shot from an AK-47, the bullet is stopped by the oobleck. It is a tough bullet to stop as it excels at penetrating through any object.
FAQ’s
1. How long can you keep oobleck?
To store, put oobleck in an airtight container and refrigerate. You may need to add a splash or two of water to get the desired consistency again—store and reuse for up to two weeks of fun.
2. Is oobleck a solid liquid or gas?
Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid with properties of both liquids and solids. You can slowly dip your hand into it like a liquid, but if you squeeze the oobleck or punch it, it will feel solid.
3. What is the purpose of the oobleck experiment?
Oobleck might look like any regular liquid or solid, but its unique properties act differently than a standard solid or liquid. While we make oobleck, it shows us how changes in pressure can change the properties of some materials—sort of like how temperature varies the properties of water.
4. Is oobleck edible?
Luckily, oobleck is non-toxic, but it probably won’t taste good since it’s just cornstarch and water.
5. Can oobleck freeze?
Freezing the oobleck creates a solid. As the oobleck melts, the consistency keeps changing.
6. What are the uses of oobleck?
- Temporarily fixing potholes–
By filling the potholes with bags of oobleck (or other non-Newtonian fluids), the oobleck has time to act like a fluid and fill the hole.
- Military application-
A vehicle hull technology comprising a non-Newtonian fluid that is lightweight, low-cost, and can be retrofitted to existing vehicles, providing the means for inhibiting the effects of explosive blasts.
- Used in children’s science classes-
Oobleck’s experiments could be effective in making children understand and learn about fluid mechanics.
Conclusion
It is thereby evident that oobleck does have the capacity to stop a bullet but not always. It is undoubtedly an exciting substance to play with and experiment with. Comment down below about your experiments and the results after using oobleck.
Recommended: Where can you buy aerogel?
