Explore the Wonders of Noise Putty at The Science of Sound’s Science Camps This Summer
Educational and Fun Activities
Written by Alexandra Stone
12 June 2024
🕓 4 min
This summer, we’re bringing the fun—and the sound—to our Science of Sound (SOS) Summer Camps with the exciting world of noise putty! Noise putty, also known as fart putty or silly putty, is not only entertaining but also a great way for children to explore the science of sound, pressure, and viscosity in a hands-on, playful way.
At our camps, children aged 5-12 will create their very own noise putty, discovering how different ingredients combine to make a gooey, stretchy material that produces funny and fascinating sounds. It’s not just a silly activity—there’s real science behind the fun, and we’ll help kids understand the physics and chemistry at work.
Let’s dive into what makes noise putty so special, and how our campers will experiment with sound and squishy science this summer!
1. What is Noise Putty?
Noise putty is a squishy, gooey substance that makes funny sounds when you squeeze or press it. The sounds are caused by air pockets moving through the putty and escaping, much like the sounds you hear when you release air from a balloon. But making noise putty isn’t just about giggles—it’s a great way for kids to learn about viscosity (how thick or runny a liquid is) and the role of air pressure in creating sound.
At our SOS camps, children will create their own noise putty using simple ingredients like glue, cornstarch, and water, customising their putty with fun colours and textures.
Fun Fact:
Noise putty works because of air pockets trapped inside the material. When you press or squeeze it, the air tries to escape, creating those funny sounds that kids love!
For more sound-related experiments, check out our post 5 Child-Friendly Ways to Visualise Sound at Home.
2. The Science Behind Noise Putty: Sound and Pressure
So, what’s happening when your noise putty makes all those silly sounds? It’s all about air pressure and vibration. When you press on the putty, you force air out of tiny pockets trapped inside. As the air escapes, it creates vibrations, which travel through the air and reach your ears as sound.
The type of sound depends on how fast or slow the air escapes. Press the putty quickly, and you’ll hear a short, high-pitched sound. Press it slowly, and you’ll get a longer, lower sound. It’s a great way for children to explore how air pressure and vibrations work together to create different sounds.
Fun Activity:
Try this at home! Make your own noise putty with glue, water, and cornstarch, and experiment with how different pressures affect the sound. What happens when you press the putty quickly? How about when you squeeze it slowly?
3. Viscosity: The Gooey Side of Science
Another important part of noise putty is its viscosity. Viscosity refers to how easily a material flows—think of it as how thick or runny something is. Honey, for example, has high viscosity because it flows slowly, while water has low viscosity because it flows easily.
Noise putty falls somewhere in the middle—it’s thick enough to hold its shape, but squishy enough to stretch and mould. By adjusting the amount of cornstarch or water in the recipe, children can experiment with making their putty more or less viscous. It’s a fun way to learn about the properties of liquids and how different ingredients interact to change those properties.
Fun Fact:
Noise putty is a type of non-Newtonian fluid, just like slime! That means its viscosity can change depending on how much pressure is applied. Squeeze it hard, and it behaves like a solid; let it sit, and it flows more like a liquid.
4. Customising Your Noise Putty: Colours, Glitter, and More!
While the science behind noise putty is fascinating, we can’t forget about the fun factor! At our SOS camps, kids will get the chance to customise their noise putty with all sorts of colours, textures, and add-ins. Whether it’s bright neon colours, glitter for a bit of sparkle, or foam beads for a crunchy texture, children can create their own unique versions of noise putty.
This not only makes the activity more exciting but also encourages creativity and self-expression. Each child gets to personalise their putty, making it just as fun to look at as it is to squish!
Fun Activity for Home:
Create your own custom noise putty by adding food colouring, glitter, or small beads to your homemade putty. See how these additions affect the look and feel of the putty, and experiment with how they change the sound when you squeeze it.
5. Educational Benefits of Noise Putty
At first glance, noise putty might seem like pure fun, but there’s a lot of valuable learning happening, too. Through this hands-on activity, children are exposed to several important STEM concepts, including:
- Air Pressure: Children learn how air trapped inside the putty creates sound when it escapes.
- Vibration and Sound: The vibrations caused by moving air produce different sounds, helping kids understand how sound waves work.
- Viscosity and Fluid Dynamics: Kids explore how different materials change the viscosity of their putty and what happens when they adjust the ingredients.
By experimenting with different recipes and observing how sound and texture change, children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a fun, engaging way.
For more STEM-based activities, check out our post 10 Ways STEM Activities Can Help Your Child's Academic and Personal Development.
6. What to Expect at SOS Summer Camps
At our SOS Summer Camps, noise putty is just one of the many exciting activities that will engage children in science and creativity. Along with experimenting with sound through noise putty, campers will participate in a range of hands-on activities, including:
- Slime-making: Learn the science behind different types of slime and create custom gooey creations.
- Sound wave experiments: Visualise how sound waves move and explore how they interact with different materials.
- Engineering challenges: From building soundproof structures to designing karts for our popular Egg Karts Workshops, kids will dive into the world of engineering and problem-solving.
- Our camps are designed to inspire a love of science and curiosity about how things work, all while providing a fun, interactive environment for learning.
7. Why Choose SOS for Your Child's Summer?
Choosing SOS means opting for a summer where education meets excitement. Our focus on noise putty is just one example of how we make complex scientific principles accessible and entertaining for children. Every activity is designed to spark curiosity and encourage a lifelong passion for science.
8. Join Us for a Summer of Scientific Discovery
This summer, let your child be amazed by the science of sound at our SOS camps. It’s not just about the noise putty; it’s about nurturing the next generation of scientists in a fun, engaging, and educational environment. Register today to secure a spot in one of our London camps, and get ready for your child to explore, learn, and grow.
Final Thoughts
This summer, let your child explore the gooey, silly, and scientific world of noise putty at our Science of Sound (SOS) Summer Camps. From experimenting with sound and pressure to creating their own customised putty, kids will have a blast while learning important STEM concepts.
Want to learn more about our science-filled summer? Check out our Science of Sound holiday camps to find out how your child can get involved in all the fun and discovery. We can’t wait to see you there!
