Homemade slime: The Science of Non-Newtonian Fluids

Homemade Slime – Experiment

Materials Needed:

• White school glue
• Baking soda
• Contact lens solution (containing boric acid)
• Food coloring
• Mixing bowl and spoon

Steps to Make Slime:

1. Pour about 4 ounces of white school glue into the mixing bowl.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring.
3. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.
4. Gradually add 1 to 2 tablespoons of contact lens solution while stirring.
5. Keep stirring until the mixture starts coming together and pulling away from the bowl’s sides.
6. Knead the slime with your hands until it becomes less sticky and more stretchy.

Science Behind Slime

• Slime is a gooey, stretchy substance that contains long, chain-like molecules called polymers. 
• It teaches us about an interesting type of material called a non-Newtonian fluid.

What are Non-Newtonian Fluids? 

• Non-Newtonian fluids are unique because they don’t behave like regular liquids or solids. 
• Their thickness (viscosity) changes when you apply force to them. 
• Slime can act like a liquid when slowly poured or stretched and like a solid when poked or pulled rapidly.

Fun Facts

Here are some interesting facts about non-Newtonian fluids:

• Non-Newtonian fluids are found in everyday items like ketchup (which flows more easily when shaken). 
• Whipped cream holds its shape like a solid when whipped but melts and flows like a liquid when left to sit.
• Quicksand is a natural non-Newtonian fluid. If you move slowly in it, you can float, but if you struggle, it becomes firmer and harder to escape from.

Review

Let’s quickly recap what we learned about slime & non-Newtonian fluids:

• What are the long chain-like molecules that slime is made of? Polymers
• What changes when force is applied to a non-Newtonian fluid like slime? Thickness (Viscosity)
• How does slime act when you poke or pull it rapidly? Solid