The Physics and Chemistry of Bubbles
Bubbles
By Olivia Kenyon
Table of contents
Table of contents 2
Table of figures 3
Background knowledge 4 The film 4 The soap or detergent 4 The shape 5 The colours 7 Different fabrics as wands 9
My investigation 10 Part 1 10 Part 2 12
Other sources 13
Table of figures
Figure 1. Soap molecules surrounding a layer of water making the film of a bubble 4
Figure 2. The general structure of a soap molecule 5
Figure 3. A table explaining that the sphere has the smallest surface area to volume ratio. 5
Figure 4. A flat interface between two bubble films 6
Figure 5. A cubic bubble film4, and a diagram of a wand that could form it2 6
Figure 6. Another cubic bubble film 6
Figure 7. A helical bubble film4, and a diagram of a wand that could form it2 6
Figure 8. Tetrahedral bubble films4, and a diagram of a wand that could form it2 7
Figure 9. A tubular bubble 7
Figure 10. Constructive interference of light 7
Figure 11. Destructive interference of light 8
Figure 12. Constructive and destructive interference 8
Figure 13. The patterns created in a bubble film with the constructive and destructive interference of white light 8
Figure 14. The thin film at the top of the bubble appears black 9
Figure 15. High ‘wettability’ 9
Figure 16. Low 'wettability' 9
Figure 17. David Stein's Bubble Thing 10
Background knowledge
As a small child, I was always fascinated by bubbles, and they seem to make everyone happy. The way they float so beautifully; the way they are so colourful, yet come from a colourless solution; and the way they miraculously morph themselves into the most incredible and ever-changing shapes. And then suddenly they burst and the magic disappears. You can never get the same bubble twice.
The film
The film of the bubble is basically made of three layers, the middle layer is water molecules, and the inner and outer layers are the soap film (see figure 1). The cohesion between the water molecules is
By Olivia Kenyon
Table of contents
Table of contents 2
Table of figures 3
Background knowledge 4 The film 4 The soap or detergent 4 The shape 5 The colours 7 Different fabrics as wands 9
My investigation 10 Part 1 10 Part 2 12
Other sources 13
Table of figures
Figure 1. Soap molecules surrounding a layer of water making the film of a bubble 4
Figure 2. The general structure of a soap molecule 5
Figure 3. A table explaining that the sphere has the smallest surface area to volume ratio. 5
Figure 4. A flat interface between two bubble films 6
Figure 5. A cubic bubble film4, and a diagram of a wand that could form it2 6
Figure 6. Another cubic bubble film 6
Figure 7. A helical bubble film4, and a diagram of a wand that could form it2 6
Figure 8. Tetrahedral bubble films4, and a diagram of a wand that could form it2 7
Figure 9. A tubular bubble 7
Figure 10. Constructive interference of light 7
Figure 11. Destructive interference of light 8
Figure 12. Constructive and destructive interference 8
Figure 13. The patterns created in a bubble film with the constructive and destructive interference of white light 8
Figure 14. The thin film at the top of the bubble appears black 9
Figure 15. High ‘wettability’ 9
Figure 16. Low 'wettability' 9
Figure 17. David Stein's Bubble Thing 10
Background knowledge
As a small child, I was always fascinated by bubbles, and they seem to make everyone happy. The way they float so beautifully; the way they are so colourful, yet come from a colourless solution; and the way they miraculously morph themselves into the most incredible and ever-changing shapes. And then suddenly they burst and the magic disappears. You can never get the same bubble twice.
The film
The film of the bubble is basically made of three layers, the middle layer is water molecules, and the inner and outer layers are the soap film (see figure 1). The cohesion between the water molecules is