SRT Journal

Tuesday 16 February Thursday 18 February

Research Questions
1. Why do bubbles form?
A bubble is just a thin film of soapy water enclosing air. This forms a
hollow sphere with a colourful surface. Waters surface is made up of
hundreds of water molecules that stick together tightly because of intermolecule and surface tension. The molecules retain their shape and stay
close together thanks to this. When soap is added to water molecules, it
reduces surface tension of the water molecules and the strong hold they
have on each other becomes slippery. This allows the surface of the water
to stretch into a bubble, this is easy to form when air from your mouth
passes through.

2. Why are bubbles always spherical?

Scientists refer to materials such as bubbles as "minimal surface
structures." This means that the gas or liquid inside of them is held with
the least possible surface area. The form for the least surface area for any
volume is always a sphere.
3. Why do they eventually burst?
Bubbles burst when the water in the bubble evaporates or when the
bubble is ruptured and air is able to escape. Dirt and oil also cause
bubbles to pop by separating the soap molecules.
Wednesday 24 February

Notes
- Wet hands to help stop bubble popping
1

- Add glycerine to strengthen the bubble (stops water from

evaporating fast)
- To freeze bubble the temperature has to be freezing point or lower
(the temperature has to drop very quickly)
- Use a straw or handmade bubble wand to blow bubbles

Wednesday 24 February

Definitions
Surface tension:
Intermolecular forces pull molecules in all directions in a liquid. But at the
surface of the liquid, molecules are forced down, into the body of liquid
and are also forced to the sides. This means neither an attractive force
above the waters surface or molecules pull in that direction. Because of
these unstable attractive forces the liquid minimizes its surface area.
Surface tension is the liquid refusing an increase in surface area.
25 February

Bubble Solutions
1. Ingredients
- Liquid dish soap (not ultra)
- Water (distilled is best)
- Container
- Glucose
Measure 6 cups of water into one container, then pour 1 cup of dish soap
into the water and slowly stir it until the soap is mixed in. Try not to let
foam or bubbles form while you stir. Add cup of glucose, stir until mixed
together. Leave overnight.
2. Ingredients
2

- Dishwashing liquid
- Water
- Sugar
Measure cup dishwashing liquid and 2 cups water and mix together.
Add 2 teaspoons sugar and mix. Leave overnight.
Wednesday 2 March

Experiment no. 1 Bubble Solution

The solution my group used (Jemma, Jessica and I) worked very well. We
were able to form 3 bubbles inside another by wetting the straw and
blowing into the first bubble and a chain of about 12 bubbles.
The solution is:
- 10ml dishwashing liquid
- 100ml water (room temperature from the tap)
- 1 tsp. glucose syrup
The bubbles didnt seem to last very long so we added another tsp.
and then another tsp glucose.

What worked well

What didnt work well

The bubble mixture

Using straws to blow bubbles
Wetting hands and table before working
with bubbles

Had to add more glucose syrup

If the table got to soapy it made it difficult
to blow bubbles

My results looked like this:

Outer
Inner
bubble
Inner
3

Inner
bubble

tab
le

Wednesday 2 March

Method for Experiment

Cubic bubble:
Materials:
-

Pipe cleaners
Straws
Scissors
Bubble mixture
Deep container example: Bucket

Twist 3 pipe cleaners into 4 triangular corners. Cut straws in half and slip
onto pipe cleaners. Twist corners together to form a cube. Dip cube into
bubble mixture. The sides should be bubbles. Shake the cube. Using a
straw, blow into the cube. A near cubic bubble should appear.
Results:
After attempting this several times we were finally able to produce a
cubic bubble.
What worked well
Construction of cube
Bubble mixture

What didnt
There wasnt enough mixture
We had to bend the cube

Frozen bubble:
Materials:
- Bubble mixture
- Plate/tray
- Freezer
Blow a bubble onto the plate and put in a cold freezer. Take bubble out
after 30 mins to 1 hour. Check on bubble every 15 to 20 mins. Remove
bubble carefully so it doesnt crack. It should stay frozen for about 10
minutes.
Results:
We decided to use dry ice instead and blew a bubble directly onto the dry
ice. It took several tries because the bubbles kept popping when they
came into contact with the dry ice but eventually a bubble was made. It
froze over quite quickly.

Big bubble:
Materials:
-

3x Bubble mixture
Bucket
Bamboo
String
Weights
Clip

Tie string in a triangle and attach weight to the bottom using clip.
Dip all of the string into bucket full of bubble mixture and lift while
slowly opening. There should be a film of bubble inside the triangle.
Walk backwards with your back to the wind. To close bubble bring
string together.
5

Results:
This bubble had to be made at home because we didnt have any more
time in the lab. I didnt have the right dishwashing liquid for the bubble
mixture and so it was very weak. The construction of the triangle was
relatively easy. I was able to produce half a bubble about the size of a
car tyre but it popped before I could close it off.

Sunday 6 March

Bubble diagram

Tuesday, 19 April

Practical Write Up
Aim
The aim of the experiments were to investigate the nature of a bubble.
Hypothesis
If certain steps are taken to influence the bubble then a frozen bubble and
square bubble will be able to be made because of extreme cold
temperatures and structures that influence surface tension and enable
the bubble to take a cubic form.
Risk Assessment
Source of risk
Dry ice

Hazard level
high

Glycerine

low

Sharp objects

low

Equipment
See page 2 5
Method
See page 2-5

Prevention
teacher supervision
Heat gloves
Safety glasses
Care to be taken while
moving around with it
Care to be taken