Bubbles

by Ron Hipschman.

What is so fascinating about bubbles? The precise spherical shape, the incredibly fragile nature of the microscopically thin soap film, the beautiful colors that swirl and shimmer, or most likely, a combination of all these phenomena? Why does a bubble form a sphere at all? Why not a cube, tetrahedron, or other geometrical figure? Let's look at the forces that mold bubbles.


Contents

Sticky Water

The Shape of Bubbles

When Bubble Meets Bubble

Soap

Bubble Colors


Additional material

Bubble Formulae

Bubbliography

Internet Resources


Copyright 1995, Ron Hipschman
All Photos copyright, Exploratorium