Plasticity Lab

Structure of the Earth:
Plasticity Lab

In science class we performed an experiment that had to do with plasticity. Plasticity is the capability if being molded, receiving shape, or being made to assume a desired form.
In this experiment or lab, we used, cornstarch, water, two small beakers, a spoon, food coloring, and a tray. With these materials we conducted an experiment that made a gooey substance that demonstrated plasticity. First, we made sure we did this lab over a tray to prevent a huge mess. Then, we put about five tablespoons of cornstarch into one beaker. After that we put twenty milliliters of water in the second beaker. Then, we combined them by pouring the water into the cornstarch slowly and mixed the substances together. We also added in about two drops of green food dye. Soon the mixture became harder to stir because it was now thick.
To describe the mixture, I would say that it was gooey and green. When you stirred it the mixture was extremely stiff and hard to mix. This was not the only way that the substance was though. It reacted in different ways depending on how you handled it. When you roll it in your hands, the pressure and heat that is being exerted on the goo, keeps it in a ball, and from falling apart. When you stop rolling it from in between your hands, the goo appears to look like a liquid. In reality it is smooth and hard.
Like I said before, this mixture reacts in different ways depending on how you handle it. Another example is when you stick your finger in the mixture quickly, it just makes a small dent in the substance. Then it returns to its original form. If you push your finger in slowly, it causes your finger to sink, and covers your finger in green goo.
The mixture is similar to the earth's mantle because of heat and pressure. Also there are two layers of the mantle. The top layer has plasticity and the bottom layer is solid. Just like the mixture that I made, it has plasticity and sometimes it can be a solid too.