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Bubbleology – The Science of Outdoor Fun

Activities
June 12, 2018
6 min read
kids playing with bubbles during isolation

Looking for an inexpensive option for some outdoor summer fun? With a little preparation, you can turn bubble blowing into an afternoon of scientific experiments.

The Science:

Bubbles are fascinating, no matter how old you get! Every soap bubble is a marvel of chemistry and physics. Soap (a surfactant) lowers the surface tension between liquids, allowing bubbles to form. A bubble is composed of three layers – a thin film of water, sandwiched between two layers of surfactant molecules (soap). This unique structure is what makes bubbles beautiful, but delicate! As long as the surface tension isnโ€™t broken, bubbles can survive surprising situations.

Why are bubbles round?

Because bubbles are held together by surface tension, they must take on the most efficient, minimal shape – the sphere. Bubbles are the strongest when they are wobbling before their shape solidifies. This is the point where itโ€™s easiest to bounce them and do certain tricks!

Here are some tips for turning bubble play into a great learning experience for your children.

Why do bubbles pop?

Bubbles donโ€™t pop whenever they touch something. There are three reasons why bubbles break:

(1) too much wind, too fast

(2) evaporation due to time and heat

(3) their delicate surface breaks whenever they touch something dry. A childโ€™s finger, a blade of grass, even a speck of dry dust can pop a bubble. The best solution? Make sure everything is WET! When I do bubble shows, I use humidifiers to make the air damp. A spray bottle will also do the trick. Spray the air around your bubble area often, or blow bubbles near a pool or sprinkler. Bubbles hate the sun – the heat speeds up their evaporation process. This is a great activity for an overcast day, or a shady spot – as long as there isnโ€™t too much wind!

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