The attractive force of surface tension causes the bubbles to take spherical shape. Because a sphere has the smallest surface area compared to other shapes with the same volume occupied, so it enables the particles to pack together close enough to achieve the tightest possible grouping than any other shape.

Bubbles are round because there is equal pressure all around the outside of the bubble. The perfectly round shape that most bubbles have is called a sphere.

Scientists refer to bubbles as “minimal surface structures.” This means that they always hold the gas or liquid inside of them with the least possible surface area. But bubbles are not always round. Bubbles are round when they float free through air.

Individual bubbles will always be round. You may have noticed in the bubble paper activity that bubbles are not always round when they touch one another. Indeed, when bubbles attach to one another, they can create all sorts of shapes.

Bubbles are round — spherical — because there is an attractive force called surface tension that pulls molecules of water into the tightest possible groupings. In a bubble, the inward surface-tension forces of the water film are exactly balanced by the outward-pushing pressure of the air inside.

Does the shape of the bubble wand determine the shape of the bubble? Why or why not? No. Blowing bubbles using a wand with a two-dimensional shape at the end the bubbles will always be round.

Classic bubbles you make from a round bubble wand make a sphere shape because that is the surface of minimal area needed to surround the air you are blowing through the circular shaped wand.

Square bubbles are easy to make and can serve as a great learning tool to explore solutions, soap films, and surface tension. You build a bubble maker that’s a cube, dip it into some soap solution, and the film stretches out flat. The film clings to the edges of the cube causing the bubble to appear to be a square.

When floating around in the air, a bubble will become a sphere; and when in a flat bubble wand, a soap film is always flat, no matter the shape of the wand. Bubble shapes are simple and predictable because deforming a bubble takes energy. Bubbles tend to spring back to the shape that is stretched as little as possible.

You can use just about anything to make a bubble wand, but start with these ideas and experiment later.

• Plastic cup: Punch a hole in the bottom to blow through.
• Plastic soft drink bottles: Cut the bottom off the bottle and dip.
• Pipe cleaners:
• Plastic funnel:
• Drinking straws:

To create your bubble solution, first mix 2 cups of dish soap, 2 tablespoons of baking powder, 2 tablespoons of corn starch and 4 tablespoons of glycerin in a large bowl. Pour in a half gallon of distilled water, and stir. Let the solution sit overnight for best results.

corn syrup

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. Measure 1 tablespoon of glycerin or 1/4 cup of corn syrup and add it to the container. Stir the solution until it is mixed together.

By adding glycerine or cornstarch you are changing the evaporation rate of the water. Not only that, but the water becomes “stretchy” with all of the starch present. Thus you have a bubble solution that is thicker, doesn’t evaporate, and can stretch a little bit!

Adding glycerin and sugar to the solution helps the bubbles last longer. The water in bubbles evaporates quickly, which makes them more fragile. Adding glycerin and sugar slows evaporation, which makes bubbles last longer.

Mix cornstarch into 1/2 cup of water. Mix well. Stir in an additional 1/2 cup of water….Materials Needed:

1. A large plastic container. I used an old tote.
2. A small plastic container or bowl.
3. 1/2 cup cornstarch.
4. 1 tsp baking powder.
5. 1/2 cup dish soap. I used Ajax.
6. 6 cups water.
7. Food coloring (optional)