Soap bubble (nonfiction)

Youth blowing soap bubble.

A soap bubble is an extremely thin film of soapy water enclosing air that forms a hollow sphere with an iridescent surface. Soap bubbles usually last for only a few seconds before bursting, either on their own or on contact with another object.

They are often used for children's enjoyment, but they are also used in artistic performances.

Assembling several bubbles results in a foam.

When light shines onto a bubble it appears to change color. Unlike those seen in a rainbow, which arise from differential refraction, the colors seen in a soap bubble arise from interference of light reflecting off the front and back surfaces of the thin soap film. Depending on the thickness of the film, different colors interfere constructively and destructively.

In the News

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  Radon Lake plasma bubble inspired by soap bubble.

Nonfiction cross-reference

External links:

• Soap bubble @ Wikipedia