Non-Newtonian Fluid on a Speaker

Serie:LabWissenschaft × Kunst • YouTube-Embed

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Non-Newtonian fluid on a speaker: under shear the mixture stiffens and grows fingers, ridges and craters. It’s striking how the shape shifts correlate with excitation peaks. For me it’s a mini-lesson about material parameters and driving signal - and yes, it splashes.

What you’re seeing

Oobleck on a speaker: a non-Newtonian cornstarch suspension “dances” and forms shapes when driven by sound.

How it works (in short)

Shear-thickening: under high shear the fluid temporarily stiffens and supports structures that collapse when motion stops.

Setup and gear

Subwoofer/large speaker and amplifier
Plastic tray/foil over the cone
Cornstarch + water (oobleck)
Tone generator (app)

Safety notes

Protect electronics from spills, keep liquids away from mains.
Use moderate volume, clean up immediately.