Moon Sand

castle1A non-Newtonian fluid is a substance that changes viscosity, such as ketchup.  Ever notice how ketchup sticks to the bottom of the bottle one minute and comes sliding out the next?


Think of viscosity as the resistance stuff has to being smeared around.   Water is “thin” (low viscosity); honey is “thick” (high viscosity).  You are about to make a substance that is both (low and high viscosity), depending on what ratio you mix up. Feel free to mix up a larger batch then indicated in the video – we’ve heard from families that have mixed up an entire kiddie pool of this stuff!



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Comments

17 Responses to “Moon Sand”
  1. Aurora says:

    Err.. okay , just DON’T EAT ANYTHING you make in science! :)

  2. Lydia Fancher says:

    blue sand muffins… eh their muffins nom nom nom… these are weird tasting muffins… thank you, this is cool!

    Cameron 13

  3. Aurora says:

    Try it! :) And let me know what you find out… remember, you’re a scientist!

  4. Margaret Gehres says:

    cool thanks auroua! i was also wandering does milk work? i havent tried the experament but i want soome differnet ways to do it.

    rose 12

  5. Aurora says:

    Flour can work, but cornstarch works better as it has 8X the thickening power over flour.

  6. Margaret Gehres says:

    do you have to use corn sttarch? is there anything else to make this experament very cool?

    her daughter rosie. 12

  7. Aurora says:

    Try again? It works over here…

  8. Lydia Fancher says:

    the video isn’t working, can you please get it working again?

    Thank you

  9. Jennifer Atchison says:

    The moon sand looks so easy!

  10. Jennifer Atchison says:

    The Moon sand experiment looks so easy to make!! :)

  11. Aurora says:

    Yes – that works too! :)

  12. Lorelei Grecian says:

    Oh, I forgot I used areo root instead of cornstarch, it worked perfectly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  13. Lorelei Grecian says:

    Can you keep the sand in the fridge? Just wondering, I love the sand its so cool!

    Raena :)

  14. Juliet White says:

    Must be cheaper to do this experiment and make your own moon sand than to by it at the store.

  15. Cyndi Kight says:

    The non-Newtonian fluid (just cornstarch and water) experiment was so very cool! Maybe even more cool than the moon sand! The kids and I just kept marveling how it would turn from a solid to a liquid right there in your hand. Who knew that there was more to cornstarch than just making gravy?? :)

  16. Debra Thomson says:

    We have made something kind of like this but it did not have the sand.

    Holly Thomson:)

  17. sevy keble says:

    Really nice how the sand can be liquid and solid! :) My brother made it so hard that when you spilled it you spilled you could not get it off.
    sevy keble
    :)

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