Submitted by: Heerav
Read their cover letter below:
“For my project, I mixed corn-starch and water to create a substance called a non-Newtonian fluid. It is abnormal because it acts like both a solid and a liquid! When you press on it or punch it, it feels hard like a solid. But if you let it sit or move slowly, it flows like a liquid. I wanted to find out why this happens.
The science behind it is really fascinating. Most liquids, like water or milk, always flow the same no matter how hard you push them. But this corn-starch mix does not follow those rules – so it is called “”non-Newtonian”” after Isaac Newton who first studied normal liquids. When you apply force, the corn-starch particles lock together and resist movement, making it feel solid. When the force stops, they slide past each other again.
This idea could actually change the world! Scientists are looking at using materials like this for body armour, since it stays soft until hit. Who knew playing with kitchen ingredients could lead to future inventions?”