A simple experiment that will get any child intrigued!

Materials

Corn Flour (also known as Corn Starch)

Tap water

Food colouring (optional)

What to do;

Add 1 cup of corn starch to a bowl

Add water slowly with very GENTLE stirring to mix into a batter like mixture (this should be a similar thickness to Yorkshire pudding/batter mix

Add food colouring to colour if desired

The Fun.

Get your child to get their hands in there!

Knead the mixture as though making bread

The liquid mixture turns into a dough!

Stop the massaging and Hey Presto… a liquid again!

The Science bit!

Big word time… Isotrophy!

Basically in some instances a fluid structure can gain a more solidified form when energy is added. Kneading the mixture adds energy to the corn flour and water mix resulting in the formation of a more solid structure. When the kneading ceases the energy being put into the mixture is gone and as such the mix turns back to its liquid form.