Feb 8 2022 - Bubbles are Bouncy

 

Bubbles are very bouncy things.  They bounce in the air, they bounce on water.  They usually burst when you try to catch them.  So elusive.   Here's the kitchen experiment that uses sugar and gloves to bounce bubbles and catch them with your hands.  Even bubbles have enemies: They are oil, dirt and gravity.   Ingredients Small bowl for mixing Spoon for stirring Cotton or wool socks or gloves Drinking Straw 60ml (4 Tbsp) Water 30ml (2 Tbsp) sugar 15ml (1 Tbsp) Dishwashing Liquid Instructions Mix all the ingredients together in the bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves Dip the end of the straw into the solution until a film forms on the end Gently blow into the other end of the straw to form a bubble Cover your hand with a sock or glove and hold your palm out flat Blow a bubble in the air and use your covered hand to gently bounce the bubble without it bursting The Science Behind Bouncing Bubbles Bubbles are simply air trapped inside a thin film of liquid – the bigger the bubble, the more air is inside. The liquid film that makes up the outside of a bubble is mostly water. Water molecules are attracted to each other by intermolecular forces – these are electromagnetic forces which act between molecules. The intermolecular forces draw the water molecules together, creating something called surface tension. Dishwashing liquid lowers the surface tension of the water, making it stretchy enough to stretch around a sphere of air to form a bubble. Bubbles, though, are prone to popping when the film is pierced or if too much water in the film evaporates, leaving too thin a layer. The sugar binds to the water molecules. This helps to stop the bubbles from drying out so they last longer and don’t pop as quickly. Usually, if you touch a bubble it bursts – this is because the natural oil on your hands breaks the surface tension of the water around the bubble. By wearing gloves or socks on your hands you create a barrier between the oil and the bubble, making it possible to bounce a bubble without bursting. All of this directly from:  The Kitchen Science Cookbook by Michelle Dickinson See Steve Spangler's science in action with his bouncing bubble video HERE.    Today's picture was taken at Longwood Gardens at the Orchid Festival a few years ago.  There is so much to admire in this beautiful tree and display.

Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblog.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca