Can You Pop an Underwater Air Bubble by Poking It?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on whether an underwater air bubble can be popped by poking it, comparing it to the behavior of soap bubbles in air. Participants explore the mechanics and implications of popping bubbles in different mediums, including the effects of water temperature and pressure.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that poking an underwater air bubble would not result in it popping, suggesting that it could only be broken into smaller bubbles.
  • Others propose that while it may not pop in the traditional sense, it could be broken into many small pieces that might not be visible.
  • One participant questions the fate of the air if the bubble were to pop underwater and discusses the implications for the surrounding water layer.
  • Another participant highlights the difference between a soap bubble and an air bubble in water, noting that the absence of a thin film in the latter makes popping unlikely.
  • There is a mention of cavitation as a related phenomenon, suggesting that while poking may not initiate bubble collapse, other conditions could lead to bubble formation and collapse.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether an underwater bubble can be popped, with no consensus reached. Some believe it cannot pop, while others suggest it could be broken into smaller bubbles or discuss related phenomena.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge various factors such as water temperature and pressure that may influence the behavior of bubbles, but these factors remain unresolved in the context of the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring fluid dynamics, bubble mechanics, or related physical phenomena in different mediums.

KuifjePDX
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If you poke at a soap bubble floating in air it pops. Can you make an underwater air bubble pop when you poke at it? I say no, my wife thinks you can.

What say you? And why?
 
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i guess you could break it into smaller bubbles, but it would not pop..the best you could do would be to break it up into so many bubbles that it appears to be dissolved, but that would depend on the temperature of the water.
 
If you popped it underwater, where would the air go? And what would happen to the layer of water surrounding it?

The answer is clearly no. You could break it into a lot of pieces, maybe, perhaps so small that you couldn't see them with the naked eye, perhaps so small that they couldn't even really be called bubbles at all, but that's not really "popping" the bubble.
 
KuifjePDX said:
If you poke at a soap bubble floating in air it pops. Can you make an underwater air bubble pop when you poke at it? I say no, my wife thinks you can.

What say you? And why?

I think you are forgetting that a soap bubble, in air, is a thin fluid film separating two volumes of air- popping the bubble means collapsing the film.

For an air bubble in water, there is no thin film- although you could conceivably make a thin air film separating two fluid volumes as above, and you could indeed pop that.
 
Compare what you're describing to the phenomenon known as cavitation. You may not be able to initiate it by poking your slow moving bubble under water, but in a low pressure region caused by flow around a propeller screw you will often get bubble formation and collapse. This can generate significant shock effects, potentially leading to a great deal of damage.

My answer would be yes and no - it could happen, but probably not just poking it with your finger.
 

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