Diameter of a soap bubble increases when it is charged

AI Thread Summary
Charging a soap bubble with the same type of charge, such as adding electrons, causes its diameter to increase due to the repulsive forces between like charges. This phenomenon can be experimentally observed by creating a soap bubble and charging it with static electricity. The discussion critiques traditional physics education for oversimplifying concepts, suggesting that real-world experiments provide a better understanding. A specific example is proposed, involving charging a 1 cm diameter bubble to high voltages to compute the expected increase in size. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of practical experimentation in understanding physical principles.
Manis
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"Diameter of a soap bubble increases when it is charged." why?
 
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It is charged with the SAME type of charge, i.e. say you put a lot of electrons on it. Now think of what an electron would like to do to another electron (other than sucker punch it or flip its spin).

Zz.
 


ZapperZ said:
(other than sucker punch it or flip its spin).
:smile:
 


Manis said:
"Diameter of a soap bubble increases when it is charged." why?
Don't believe everything you are told. Take an experimantalist's approach. Make a soap bubble. Then charge it with electricity made with a piece of plastic rubbed by woolen cloth.

I guess this is one more most-stupid-example-found-in-school-textbook-on-physics making kids hating physics and showing them that physics is a set of formulae and rules predicting world behaviour contrary to their own experience.
 


@ZapperZ - excercise for you:
A bubble 1cm in diameter, normal air pressure.
Charge it to 100,000V (or 1 million...)
Compute 'increase' of diameter.
 
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