Bubbles that collapse = light?

Thread starter Abscissas
Start date Jun 5, 2013
Tags

Bubbles Collapse Light

In summary, bubbles collapse due to the force of surface tension, which increases as the bubble gets thinner. When a bubble collapses, it releases a burst of energy in the form of light, ranging from visible to ultraviolet and infrared. The colors seen in a collapsing bubble are a result of interference patterns and can range from blues and greens to purples and pinks. While the light produced by collapsing bubbles is not harmful, it is best to avoid getting bubble liquid in your eyes or mouth as it may contain bacteria or viruses.

Jun 5, 2013

Abscissas

Hey I heard somewhere that bubbles underwater that are collapsed by sound waves produce light, to me this in no way makes sense can anyone explain is it like swamp gas that the fabled UFOs are

Science news on Phys.org

Jun 5, 2013

Jimmy

That's known as sonoluminescence:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonoluminescence

Jun 5, 2013

ZapperZ

Staff Emeritus

Science Advisor

Education Advisor

Insights Author

Also see this:

Zz.

Last edited by a moderator: Sep 25, 2014

1. What causes bubbles to collapse?

Bubbles collapse due to the force of surface tension. As the bubble gets thinner, the surface tension increases, causing it to eventually collapse.

2. How does light play a role in bubble collapse?

When a bubble collapses, it releases a burst of energy in the form of light. This is due to the rapid compression and heating of the air inside the bubble, which causes it to emit photons of light.

3. What colors can be seen in a collapsing bubble?

The colors seen in a collapsing bubble are typically a result of interference patterns created by the thinning and collapsing of the bubble. These colors can range from iridescent blues and greens to purples and pinks.

4. Can bubbles that collapse produce different types of light?

Yes, bubbles that collapse can produce a range of light, including visible light as well as ultraviolet and infrared light. The type of light produced depends on the composition of the bubble and the conditions of collapse.

5. Is the light produced by collapsing bubbles harmful?

No, the light produced by collapsing bubbles is not harmful. In fact, it is a natural phenomenon that occurs in many everyday situations, such as popping soap bubbles or breaking waves at the beach. However, it is important to note that bursting bubbles can create small droplets that may carry bacteria or viruses, so it is always best to avoid getting bubble liquid in your eyes or mouth.