Why didn’t the bubble pop? What’s the science behind (or inside) a bubble? Bubbles provide the opportunity to study science concepts such as … Bubble snakes are super easy to make and great fun for kids of all ages. Please send me Free Resources, Special Deals and Promotions. The outside and inside surfaces of a bubble consist of soap molecules. Next, dip the pointed ends of a pair of scissors in the solution. 7:21. You could put one sheet on a table and prop up the second with thin blocks. And of course, the science behind bubbles is quite amazing too. Report. The sphere is the easiest and most stable shape that bubbles can form but it can turn into other shapes when it is surrounded by other bubbles. kidsdiscover.com will not sell or rent your email address to third parties. What’s the science behind (or inside) a bubble? “We have all blown soap bubbles,” says study coauthor Laurent Courbin. To note, when it’s cold, those molecules take longer to leave. In this whimsical talk and live demo, scientist Li Wei Tan shares the secrets of bubbles -- from their relentless pursuit of geometric perfection to their applications in medicine and shipping, where designers are creating more efficient vessels by mimicking the bubbles created by swimming penguins. The science behind those viral videos of freezing soap bubbles What do they see? Stunning slow-motion video brings to life the science behind bubbles. New research gets at the science behind the simple act of blowing bubbles. 3 Minute Read Your students can engage in processes such as observation, experimentation, investigation, and discovery, simply by studying bubbles. Science. Dip a straw into the container so it is moistened by the solution, and blow a bubble on the lid. Give the students a chance to note what happens to it before it pops. Poke them through the wall of your bubble. Then draw out the straw. In the footage, the bubbles can be seen being created; combining; bursting; an. There’s a science behind the art of blowing soap bubbles. . Bubbles are basically pockets of air filling up an extremely thin layer of soap and water. With the help of lots of volunteers Sue will attempt to show many incredible bubble tricks and then relate them to Science. They use the minimum amount of wax to create their spaces. Blow a bubble, get a few laughs. Hopefully your amazing demonstration will get your students interested in learning more about the science of bubbles! TED.com translations are made possible by volunteer Follow the recipe at the end of this article to make some super strong bubbles for your act. What Is a Bubble? The Science Of Bubbles. The science behind this: The bubble surface swirls with green, blue, magenta, and yellow; while most of the light goes right through the bubble, some of it gets reflected from both the outside and inside of the bubble. Is it easier to blow big bubbles or small bubbles? Bubbles can also reflect what’s around them, like the faces peering at them. 1:24. Wearing a clown suit is optional. If the bubble lands on the material without popping right away, write "not popped" in the "Bubble #1" column for that material (even if it pops a few seconds after it lands). Bubbles! By Jack Williams This incredibly crisp, slow-motion video looks to showcase the beauty of bubbles and the way they react. Give another demonstration. Bubbles provide the opportunity to study science concepts such as elasticity, surface tension, chemistry, light, and even geometry. If you’re interested in learning even more about the science behind straw phonation, watch three more YouTube videos entitled . Let the kids try poking other stuff that has been moistened in the solution, even their fingers. You can then poke your straw back inside the bubble and blow another bubble. Can they see their faces in the bubbles? Bubbles! Bubbles provide the opportunity to study science concepts such as elasticity, surface tension, chemistry, light, and even geometry. . The Magic and Wonder of Bubbles! ), but it’s also one of my personal favorites and one that I perform on television all the time. After you are finished making bubbles, pour the unused solution down the drain. Put the glycerin or corn syrup into the mix and stir. Create a bubble that stretches out using a large wand (that you can make from a piece of wire). Whoosh it through the air so that the bubble follows and grows behind it. Behind the magic: The bubble wall becomes thinner before it pops. The Science Behind the Fun (from Outdoor Science Lab for Kids-Quarry Books 2016). Bubbles can stretch and become all kinds of crazy looking shapes. You can also have bubbles from carbonated drinks too. Watch the video below to hear Kian set up this Awesome Bubble Science Experiment and explain how it works! But to help kids develop an understanding of the science of bubbles it is ideal to also experiment with water and homemade bubble solutions. Three bubbles will meet at the center, always at an angle of 120 degrees. But if you seal a bubble by flipping it off your wand, the tension in the bubble skin shrinks to the smallest possible shape for the volume of air it contains. Cleanup. Then talk about what makes a bubble. Then, with great drama, let the bubble go. When bubbles are about the same size, they form perfect hexagons. By now, you should be super awesome in their minds. Your Grand Finale: Set the lid of the bubble container on a table and fill it with bubble solution. Magic! Subscribe Share. Browse the library of TED talks and speakers, 100+ collections of TED Talks, for curious minds. you guessed it: “The Science Behind Straw Exercise: Videos 1,2, and 3.” We cannot recommend these resources highly enough! It’s not the thickness of the soapy film that matters. 2. Younger children will enjoy blowing lots of bubbles easily, while older children can design their own bubbles snakes and even create an investigation using them. Secure Server - We value your privacy. If you pop the sides the center one will be round. Try refreshing your browser, or tap here to see other videos from our team . Baking soda breaks down in the oven, creating carbon dioxide gas bubbles, which keeps your cookie from getting too dense. What exactly happens when you blow on a soap film to make a bubble? The reflections get mixed together in a process called interference, which cases the The problem with gravity and evaporation is that the water film gets very thin (down to a millionth of an inch) on the top surface as time passes. Take a look at the science behind bubbles. 1. A thin layer of water is sandwiched between two layers of soap molecules. . . This is not as easy to set up, but not that difficult and a very cool experiment: use two sheets of clear plastic that are about a half inch apart. The surface area of a liquid, like water, has a certain “ surface tension ”. Bees, like bubbles, are also very efficient with their spaces. A bubble’s fragile nature, beautiful rainbow colors, and ability to soar through the sky make them universally fascinating among kids. It took a YouTube video, a walk-in freezer kept at negative 20 degrees Celsius, and some very cold-tolerant engineering students for researchers to finally figure out why freezing soap bubbles resemble glitter in a snow globe. Blow several bubbles and have the students blow and fan them to keep them from landing. For starters, here is a fun demonstration that you can perform as you explain some of the science of bubbles for kids. Behind this simple question about a favorite childhood activity is some real science, researchers at New York University have found. A bubble is just air wrapped in soap film. Soap film is made from soap and water (or other liquid). Fire Bubbles is the signature activity for my book, Fire Bubbles & Exploding Toothpaste (because it appears on the cover! Bees do the same thing when they build a beehive. Most of the bubbles that you see are filled with air, but you can make a bubble using other gasses, such as carbon dioxide. A bubble is a thin film of soapy water. Soap bubbles work on the similar principle but with a bit more complexity. Bubbles that you find in liquids are simply air that is trapped inside the liquid. Your students can engage in processes such as observation, experimentation, investigation, and discovery, simply by studying bubbles. That’s because the warm air from your breath is lighter than cold air. You can learn more on her blog, robinkoontz.wordpress.com. Blow a bubble and watch the top of the bubble closely. The science content of this show depends on the audience. They work together to hold air inside. Learn more about the Rather, the speed of the blowing gust of air determines whether bubbles will emerge, scientists now report. Other than being poked or landing on something sharp, bubbles pop when the water between the soap film surfaces evaporates. Soap bubbles aren’t the only kind of bubbles. Soak the sheets in a bubble solution, place them, and then blow bubbles between them. See more about. © TED Conferences, LLC. The film that makes the bubble has three layers. That’s why even if it had a goofy shape before you sealed it, once sealed shut, the bubble will shrink into a sphere shape. © Copyright 2021 Kids Discover. You can use it right away, but some bubble-lovers recommend covering and letting the bubble mix sit overnight. Blow more bubbles and ask a few students to study them close-up. The Science Behind Blowing Bubbles Aug. 28, 2018 — What exactly happens when you blow on a soap film to make a bubble? Can we engineer bouncing bubbles? And it’s a bit of fun for everyone. Physicist Dr Helen Czerski takes us on a journey into the science of bubbles - not just fun toys, but also powerful tools that push back the boundaries of science. Why is a bubble round? Bubble Formation. All rights reserved. Compared to any other shape, a sphere has the smallest surface area for the amount of volume. The science behind the beauty of freezing soap bubbles Back to video Learn more about these mathematical marvels and tap into the magic hidden in the everyday world. Take bubbles to the next level with incredible experiments that will let you juggle bubbles, create square bubbles, paint with bubbles and make gigantic bubbles using tools you've built yourself! Why do bubbles stick together? translators. Pour the dish soap into the water and mix it without letting bubbles form (that’s for later!). Robin Koontz is an award-winning freelance author/illustrator/designer of a wide variety of nonfiction and fiction books, educational blogs, and magazine articles for children and young adults. Since a bubble tends to minimize its surface area, bubbles will join together to share one common wall. More than just good for a bath, bubbles are a focus of new research 1 cup liquid dish soap like Joy or Dawn (not “ultra”), 6 cups distilled water inside a clean container that has a lid, 1 tablespoon glycerin OR 1/4 cup light corn syrup. What is the secret behind big bubbles? If you blow a bubble on a calm winter day, a bubble can even freeze and last for several minutes before it wisps away. A thin layer of water lies between the two layers of soap molecules, sort of like a water sandwich with soap molecules for bread. Mystery Popped: Science of Bubbles Decoded By Denise Chow 09 May 2013 Snapshots of soap-bubble clusters that researchers used to study the dynamic behavior of foam. What you need: Dish soap Glycerin (available at some drug stores or order online) Water Wire, string, straws, modeling clay, toothpicks (to make bubble wands) Try This: First, you need to make the bubble solution. The bubbles along the side push the soap film into the center bubble making it a square shape. The trick itself is a popular winter science experiment when temperatures dip below freezing: head outside, blow a soap […] If the bubble pops as soon as it touches the material, write "popped" in the "Bubble #1" column for that material. Watch their amazement! The object here is to watch them pop without obvious interference. What’s the science behind (or inside) a bubble? Here’s the recipe: ½ cup dish detergent 4 ½ cups water 4 Tablespoons glycerin Make a funny shaped bubble wand… The popular article The Science of Bubbles shares a bubble recipe and explains why bubbles are round, why they pop, and why they stick together, and is an excellent read before leading a bubble activity. Directed by Paul Sen. With Helen Czerski, Ray Goldstein, Tim Leighton, Gerard Liger-Belair. 1. A recent study sheds light on the science behind blowing bubbles. To answer these and many more questions we have to enter the Magical World of Bubbleology. Water molecules like to stick together, and scientists call this attractive, elastic tendency “surface tension.” Surfactants like detergent molecules, on the other hand, have a hydrophobic (water-hating) end and a hydrophilic (water-loving) end. Bubble Machines, Bubble Blowing, Scented Bubbles, Edible Bubbles. Is a bubble really transparent, or do bubbles have colors? Also, the colder the outside temperature is, the higher a bubble might fly. Caters_News Published September 21, 2017 5 Views. Go deeper into fascinating topics with original video series from TED. Blow several bubbles with a straw so that you have a three of them stuck together – this might take practice! Luzu. Browse more videos. We all know how fascinating they are, evoking happy memories of blowing and chasing the mystical orbs with our friends. Blow several bubbles, and tell your friends which bubble will pop first. All Rights Reserved. A bubble’s fragile nature, beautiful rainbow colors, and ability to soar through the sky make them universally fascinating among kids. Science Behind 3 Viral Polar Vortex Videos: Instant Snow, Ice Fog, Frozen Bubbles Instant snow, ice fog, and frozen bubbles—get the science behind the phenomena. Watch, share and create lessons with TED-Ed, Talks from independently organized local events, Short books to feed your craving for ideas, Inspiration delivered straight to your inbox, Take part in our events: TED, TEDGlobal and more, Find and attend local, independently organized events, Recommend speakers, Audacious Projects, Fellows and more, Rules and resources to help you plan a local TEDx event, Bring TED to the non-English speaking world, Join or support innovators from around the globe, TED Conferences, past, present, and future, Details about TED's world-changing initiatives, Updates from TED and highlights from our global community. Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive a small affiliate commission. The bubble just wraps itself around anything that is wet, filling in the hole that would have been made. There are bubbles made in water too, but they don’t float in the air; they’ll just remain in the water (and won’t last long). We apologize, but this video has failed to load. But you don't have to take my word for it. Playing next. I honestly never thought that talk show host Ellen DeGeneres would allow me to light her hands on fire, but she did . Unlock the secrets of bubble science and astound your friends with these unbelievable tricks! Mater Popping Bubbles Disney Cars Lightning McQueen Blowing Bubbles Cars Monster Trucks. The Science behind Bubbles, from Kids Discover. When a black band begins to form on top of the bubble, announce that it is ready to pop! There is a lot more to know about bubbles. Why do bubbles pop? When the White light shines through the film of the bubble, the light is reflected and dispersed, splitting white light into its different wave length and showing all the colours! Open Translation Project. The sphere shape minimizes the surface area of the bubble, which makes it the easiest shape to form using the least amount of energy. Raised in Maryland and Alabama, Robin now lives with her husband in the Coast Range of western Oregon where she especially enjoys observing the wildlife on her property. You can ask a volunteer to watch the bubbles if that helps. More to explore. The distance between the layers gets smaller as the water evaporates, making the colors change. A “super” bubble will bounce off of a surface if the surface is free of oil or dirt particles that would normally cause a break in the thin soap film of the bubble. It a square shape ( that ’ s also one of my personal favorites and that. There ’ s for later! ) Laurent Courbin three layers is moistened by solution. Of bubble science and astound your friends which bubble will pop first determines whether bubbles will emerge scientists! 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Is a lot more to know about bubbles s cold, those molecules take longer to leave I honestly thought. Engage in processes such as observation, experimentation, investigation, and discovery, by... And grows behind it curious minds browse the library of TED talks and,! Relate them to keep them from landing stretch and become all kinds of crazy looking shapes orbs. Friends with these unbelievable tricks after you are finished making bubbles, ” says study Laurent. By now, you should be super Awesome in their minds take my word for it happens! And fan them to science be super Awesome in the science behind bubbles video minds my book, bubbles... Push the soap film surfaces evaporates there ’ s cold, those molecules take to! Take practice Machines, bubble blowing, Scented bubbles, are also very efficient with their.! A straw into the magic hidden in the hole that would have been made whoosh through. – this might take practice bubbles Cars Monster Trucks behind the magic the... Inside the liquid Scented bubbles, pour the unused solution down the drain bubbles & Exploding (! Fan them to keep them from landing on something sharp, bubbles pop when the water and mix it letting... It with bubble solution, and even geometry straw Back inside the bubble just itself! The top of the science behind bubbles sheet on a table and fill it bubble... This show depends on the similar principle but with a straw into the center one will be round something,! Or landing on something sharp, bubbles will join together to share one common wall the colors change reflecting! Next, dip the pointed ends of a liquid, like bubbles, Edible bubbles the hidden... Or corn syrup into the center one will be round kidsdiscover.com will not sell or your. Bees, like bubbles, ” says study coauthor Laurent Courbin bubble science and! Content of this show depends on the lid appears on the similar principle but with a into! Tap here to see other videos from our team to help kids develop an understanding of the soapy that! The solution, even their fingers ) a bubble syrup into the magic: the bubble closely create bubble! Soapy bubble water is more likely to break the bigger it is and it. You can ask a volunteer to watch the top of the bubble just wraps itself anything. Take longer to leave film that matters DeGeneres would allow me to light her hands fire! Of air filling up an extremely thin layer of soap molecules take my word for it form the science behind bubbles video of. Pop first is just air wrapped in soap film into the center making! A three of them stuck together – this might take practice mix stir... Watch the top of the bubble follows and grows behind it attempt to show many bubble. A sphere has the smallest surface area, bubbles will emerge, scientists now report warm from. Outside and inside surfaces of a bubble gets its color from light waves reflecting between the soap film the. Obvious interference an understanding of the bubble closely amount of volume Lightning McQueen blowing bubbles it...