Soap bubble measures electric field

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the feasibility of determining a local electric field by observing changes in the interference spectrum of a soap bubble. Participants consider the impact of an applied electric field on the bubble's iridescence and the challenges associated with quantifying such changes, taking into account factors like surface tension and environmental conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the change in interference spectrum due to an electric field could be calculated, considering the effect of induced charges and surface tension.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about the ease of quantifying changes in the bubble's colors due to randomness from air currents and internal bubble dynamics.
  • A different viewpoint proposes that the method could be similar to crystallographic techniques, implying potential feasibility.
  • One participant argues that isolating a single bubble for study under controlled conditions could mitigate some challenges, although they acknowledge temperature variations as a significant difficulty.
  • Another participant contends that the dynamic nature of soap bubble molecules makes the task more complex than X-ray crystallography, suggesting that while polar molecules may align with an electric field, the effect might not be visually detectable.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the feasibility and complexity of using soap bubbles to measure electric fields. There is no consensus on whether the proposed method would be effective or practical.

Contextual Notes

Participants note various limitations, including the influence of environmental factors like air currents and temperature variations, as well as the dynamic behavior of the soap bubble's molecular structure.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring experimental methods in physics, particularly in the context of electric fields and optical phenomena.

Loren Booda
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Can one determine a local electric field by the change in interference spectrum of a soap bubble? If one notes the spectrum with E=0, then applies a nonzero E-field, would the effect of the induced repulsive charge on iridescence be relatively easy to calculate, given the additional variable of local surface tension?
 
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Mmm...I'm not sure that would be very easy, since the turbulence of the colors in the bubble are so random already, and depend on things like surrounding air currents, currents within the bubble, and so on...and it would probably be very hard to quantify any such change even if it is visible.

Interesting idea though!
 
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I don't see why not in principle, wouldn't it be similar to crystallographic methods?
 
gabee said:
Mmm...I'm not sure that would be very easy, since the turbulence of the colors in the bubble are so random already, and depend on things like surrounding air currents, currents within the bubble, and so on...and it would probably be very hard to quantify any such change even if it is visible.

Interesting idea though!

I don't think its so difficult to isolate a single bubble and study it in controlled conditions, using already available techniques. I think temp variations would present the biggest difficulties. I am not very familiar with the details of X-Ray Crystallography though, but its a topic that I am very interested in at present.
 
It would probably be a lot harder than X-ray crystallography, since the molecules in a soap bubble are not crystallized and static; rather, they move around a lot. I would guess that when an electric field is applied, the polar water molecules would tend to line up somewhat with the field, but the effect wouldn't be visible since the thickness of the water and soap films would still be about the same as with no field. Of course, I could be completely wrong. If you can, try this out!
 

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