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Square Bubbles It's easy to make a square bubble using dish soap and water.
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Square Bubbles

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Do square bubbles really exist? That's the question of the day and the answer is yes… if you know the science secret. Square bubbles are easy to make and serve as a great learning tool as students explore the concepts of soap films and surface tension. Get ready to amaze your friends.

Materials

Try this bubble recipe...

Start with 8 liters of warm water in a bucket or deep sink. Use a container at least 30 cm (one foot) in diameter and at least 30 cm (one foot) deep. A large bucket is ideal, or try a rectangular file box (from any office store). Add 1/2 cup of liquid dishwashing detergent. Mix the bubble solution gently and remove excess foam. For tougher, longer lasting bubbles, add 1 tablespoon glycerin.

Square Bubbles

 

  1. Find a container to hold about 7.5 liters (2 gallons) of water. Some people use a 19-liter (5 gallon) bucket while others use a big plastic tube found in a department store.
  2. Add .5 liters (2 cups) of liquid dish washing detergent. The real "bubble masters" prefer the Dawn brand but other brands work. Just try to avoid detergent that contains antibacterial products.
  3. Mix the bubble solution gently with your hand. For crystal-clear bubbles, be sure that you always KEEP THE SURFACE FREE OF FOAM. If the water is hard in your area, add extra detergent. Optional: Add a tablespoon of glycerin (from any drugstore) for tougher, longer-lasting bubbles.
    Tip: Bubble solution improves with age. If you can, leave the mixture in an open container for at least one day before use.
  4. Dip the square bubble contraption into the bubble solution. Always hold the model by a node. Dipping at an angle works best. Be sure that the model is immersed completely, so that all sides are covered. Gently lift the model out of the bubble solution. You should have an exciting geometric bubble!

Now Try This!

  1. Cut the bulb off of the top of a graduated pipette. Now you have a perfect bubble blower!
  2. Shake your square bubble just a litte and you will see that the edges start to collapse and make a new shape inside the square bubble structure.
  3. Gently put the larger end of the pipette up to the middle of your square bubble.
  4. Very gently blow into the pipette... what starts to happen?
  5. You get a bubble inside of a bubble! So cool!

How does it work?

Bubbles form because of the SURFACE TENSION of water. Hydrogen atoms in one water molecule are attracted to oxygen atoms in other water molecules. They like each other so much, they cling together. Normal bubbles enclose the MAXIMUM VOLUME OF AIR with THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF BUBBLE SOLUTION, so they are always round. In fact, all square bubbles bubbles are “MINIMUM” surfaces. When stretched between struts, bubbles cling to the structure as you dip into the solution. The surface tension of water, alone, is TOO STRONG to make good bubbles, ADDING SOAP REDUCES THE SURFACE TENSION. It also adds oily film that slows down the evaporation process, so you get longer-lasting bubbles!
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