Silly Putty



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 Code Number :   2C60.30  

Disclaimer:

Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website.

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Condition :   Excellent  
Principle :   Elastic Recovery of a Highly Viscous Fluid, Shear Force  
Area of Study :  Heat and Fluids   
Equipment :   Silly Putty, Large Hammer, Corn Starch, Water.  

Procedure :   Set the silly putty on a very solid surface. HIT THE PUTTY VIOLENTLY WITH THE HAMMER!!! Due to the fact that silly putty has a lower viscosity for slow shear rates and a high viscosity for fast shear rates the putty will shatter like a large crystal. 

Another product that acts much the same way as silly putty is called mung. This is made by mixing corn starch and water to the desired solid/fluid consistency. Again this has a high viscosity for fast shear rates.  

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   References

Jearl Walker,  "Serious Fun with Polyox, Silly Putty, Slime and Other Non-Newtonian Fluids,"  The Amateur Scientist,  (November, 1978).

Jearl Walker,  "Easy Ways to Make Holograms and View Fluid Flow, and More Funny Fluids,"  The Amateur Scientist,  (February, 1980).

 

Janice VanCleave, "Glob," 200 Gooey, Slippery, Slimy, Weird, & Fun Experiments, p. 55.

Janice VanCleave, "Sticky Sand," 201 Awesome, Magical, Bizarre, & Incredible Experiments, p. 54.

4.127:  Jearl Walker, "Die-Swelling Silly Putty," The Flying Circus of Physics with Answers.

4.128:  Jearl Walker, "Bouncing Putty," The Flying Circus of Physics with Answers.

 



Mail Questions and Comments to:  Dale Stille