Exploring Silly Putty: Borax Concentrations and Material Properties
Created by mixing borax with glue, silly putty is a fascinating material with varying properties based on borax concentrations. Through a hands-on experiment, participants make different batches of silly putty to observe how high, medium, and low borax concentrations affect its texture and behavior. They compare the unique properties of silly putty to springs, discuss if it is more like an elastic solid or a viscous fluid, and reflect on their hypotheses. This engaging activity encourages learners to explore the science behind materials and their transformations.
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Presentation Transcript
Making Silly Putty Instructions
Silly Putty: a Solid or a Fluid? You will make three batches of silly putty, each with a different concentration of borax (high, medium and low concentrations). Explain what effect you think the different borax concentrations will have. How will the material properties change? What do you think the borax does to the glue to form silly putty? In your groups, gather the following materials: 2 containers 3 spoons 3 plastic bags
Silly Putty: a Solid or a Fluid? In one container, mix together 1 ounce warm water with teaspoon borax. 1. In the other container, mix together 2 ounces glue and 2 ounces warm water until you have a uniform solution. 2. Slowly pour the borax mixture into the glue mixture while stirring. Be sure that all borax is transferred to the glue solution. 3. When the solution starts to thicken, mix it with your hands instead of the spoon. Continue to mix until a uniform solution is achieved and NO water is present. 4. Store in a plastic bag and label low concentration. 5. Repeat steps 1-5 two more times, with 1 teaspoon of borax (medium concentration) and 2 teaspoons borax (high concentration), respectively. 6.
Silly Putty: a Solid or a Fluid? Explore the unique properties of silly putty and note your observations! How is silly putty different from springs? Explain whether your hypothesis was correct about how the borax concentrations changed the material properties of the silly putty. Did you see any differences while making the three concentrations? Discuss whether you think silly putty is an elastic solid or a viscous fluid. Why?
