Oobleck Bike Ride

Make a prediction!  What do you think is going to happen to the man in the purple shirt? 

What do the particles of Oobleck look like under his feet right now?

• Packed together, barely moving

• Slightly spaced apart, able to move fluidly

• Very spread out and moving around rapidly.

What state of matter does the oobleck seem to have here? Give evidence to back up your claim.

Choose a claim and support it.

a) The bicycle wheel is thinner and will apply too much pressure to the Oobleck.  Therefore, the bike will sink.

b) The bicycle wheel is thinner and applies more pressure to the Oobleck.  Therefore, such pressure will support the wheel and the bike will not sink.

The biker will not pedal as fast through the Oobleck as before.  Will you develop a new claim or maintain your previous claim?

• a) The speed of the bike changes everything! I need to adjust my thinking.

• b) The speed of the bike changes nothing.  I am sticking to my old claim.

The biker pedaled fast enough and rode across the Oobleck. The speed of the bike changes everything!

• True

• False

What has happened?

So, what state of matter is Oobleck?

• Solid

• Liquid

• Gas