Cornstarch and Water: Understanding Non-Newtonian Fluids

The video explores the unique behavior of a cornstarch and water mixture, which acts like a liquid when moved slowly and solidifies under pressure. MIT engineers have developed a mathematical model to predict this behavior by considering particle size and interactions. The model can be applied to various scenarios, such as pothole fillings or bulletproof vests.

What happens when you gently swish a cornstarch and water mixture in a bowl?

• It moves like a liquid.

• It feels like paste.

• It evaporates.

• It solidifies into a ball.

What is the approximate size of a single cornstarch particle?

• 1 to 10 microns wide

• 10 to 100 microns wide

• 100 to 1000 microns wide

• 1 to 10 millimeters wide

What is the main challenge in predicting the behavior of cornstarch and water mixtures?

• Their nutritional content

• Their chemical composition

• Their unpredictable behavior under different conditions

• Their color and texture

What unique effects do cornstarch particles experience due to their small size?

• They are only influenced by magnetic fields.

• They are unaffected by temperature.

• They are influenced by temperature and electric charges.

• They are only influenced by gravity.

How do cornstarch particles behave when influenced by electric charges?

• They become magnetic.

• They repel each other slightly.

• They attract each other strongly.

• They dissolve in water.

What happens when you move the cornstarch mixture too quickly?

• The particles repel each other more.

• The mixture evaporates.

• The particles touch and create friction, acting as a solid.

• The mixture becomes more fluid.

What did the MIT engineers incorporate into their model to predict the behavior of the cornstarch mixture?

• Temperature variations

• Chemical reactions

• Equations describing particle repulsion and deformation speed

• Magnetic field effects

What can the new model developed by MIT engineers be used to explore?

• The environmental impact of cornstarch production

• The nutritional value of cornstarch

• The chemical composition of cornstarch

• The behavior of ultra-fine particle solutions in various applications

Which of the following is NOT a potential application of the new model?

• Industrial lubricants

• Spacecraft fuel

• Bulletproof vests

• Fillings for potholes