Has any one ever added water to cornflower?

Question

why does cornflower go solid if you squeeze it and then trickle throught your hand when you relax???

Answer 1

Cornstarch mixed with water in the right proportions is called "oobleck".  It's a shear-thickening material, or dilatant.  Shear-thickening means that the more shear force is applied, such as squeezing or pressing on it, the viscosity of the material increases.

Answer 2

It is a thixotropic substance, which has a shear rate-dependent viscosity. Do a Google search on thixotropic to find out more information. There is a link below, too.

Answer 3

This is a strange property called "thixotropy" where the viscosity of a material changes according to the pressure applied. When you squeeze, the water is trapped between the cornflour grains and the grains form a semi-solid.

Science can be really fun. I love playing with the stuff.