Can the Life Span of a Bubble be Extended in Different Temperatures and Atmospheric Conditions?

Purpose

To determine if certain substances can increase the life span of soap bubbles under var ying temperatures and atmospheric conditions.

Materials Needed

• 1 cup (240 ml) dishwashing liquid
• tap water
• 3-quart (-liter) glass, metal, or plastic container
• 9 plastic drinking straws
• stopwatch
• 8 clear glass jars with covers
• bubble additives:
  1 teaspoon (5 ml) school glue
  3 drops food coloring
  ¼ teaspoon (1 ml) vanilla extract
  ¼ teaspoon (1 ml) witch haze
  ¼ teaspoon (1 ml) olive oil
  ¼ teaspoon (1 ml) aftershave lotion
  ¼ teaspoon (1 ml) lemon juice
• masking tape
• marking pen
• thermometer

Experiment

Bernoulli's principle of raising and lowering a bubble by changing the air pressure will be tested with bubbles made from liquid soap under two types of atmospheric conditions: a hazy, hot, and humid environment and a clear, cold environment. The same principle will be tested again when the soap bubbles are mixed with bubble additives to see whether the bubbles will be altered in the same two environments. Finally, both types of bubbles will be blown into eight glass jars, covered, and placed in a warm room. The life span of each bubble will be timed until it pops. The same will be done in a cold room. Comparisons will be made between additives under differing temperatures and atmospheric conditions.

Procedure

1. On a hazy, hot, and humid day, mix a solution of ½ cup (120 ml) dishwashing liquid with 2 quarts (liters) water in the container outdoors. Dip one end of a straw into the solution and blow from the other end to create a bubble. Shake the straw lightly to detach the bubble. With a stopwatch, time the life span of the bubble while testing Bernoulli's principle (wave your hand over the

   

   bubble to make it rise, then wave your hand under the bubble to make it sink). Repeat the same procedure on a clear, cold day. Note any changes in the way the bubble forms and the length of time it remains intact.
2. Mix another solution of ½ cup (120 ml) dishwashing liquid and 2 quarts (liters) of water. Pour equal amounts of the solution into the eight jars. Add the specified amount of a different bubble additive to each jar, stir until dissolved,and label each jar. The eighth jar is the control and will contain soap bubbles only. Then, repeat step 1 for the seven jars containing bubble additive and record your results.
3. Bring all eight of the jars indoors. Using a different straw for each mixture, blow a bubble directly into each of the jars. Cover the jars immediately and place them in a warm room heated to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Observe each bubble and record the time it takes for each to pop. Repeat this step in a room cooled to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. You may also use a refrigerator.

Results

1. Did the air pressure within the plain soap bubbles change under different atmospheric conditions? If so, how did the bubbles react, and how long did they exist under each condition?
2. Did the bubble additives have any effect in changing the way the bubbles reacted to each environment? If so, what were these effects?
3. Did the plain soap bubbles or the bubbles with additives last longer under warmer or colder temperatures?
4. In which bubble additive solution did the bubbles last the longest under all conditions?
5. What practical applications might this experiment have for industry?

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