SUMMARY
The thickness of a soap bubble's skin varies as it grows, starting thick and becoming thinner due to evaporation. The soap mixture can be adjusted to slow down this evaporation process. Gravity causes water to flow from the top to the bottom of the bubble, maintaining the skin's integrity until it eventually dries out and bursts. The presence of rainbow colors on the bubble's surface indicates that the skin is only a few wavelengths of light thick, resulting from light interference between the inner and outer surfaces.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of soap bubble formation and properties
- Knowledge of light interference and wavelengths
- Familiarity with the effects of evaporation on liquid surfaces
- Basic principles of fluid dynamics related to gravity
NEXT STEPS
- Research the effects of different soap mixtures on bubble longevity
- Learn about light interference patterns in thin films
- Explore methods to measure the thickness of soap bubble skins
- Investigate the role of gravity in fluid dynamics within soap bubbles
USEFUL FOR
Students of physics, chemists studying surface tension, and anyone interested in the science of soap bubbles and their optical properties.