Bubbles Lab
Bubbles are the best – it doesn’t seem to matter the age – if there are bubbles – there is fun. I recently did a bubble lab in school and I think the 6th grade had more fun than the littles! From seeing who can blow the biggest bubble, to a bubble in a bubble, to guessing how far they will float before they pop, to finding the perfect bubble solution – it was so much fun! Today I am going to share how you can do a Bubble Lab with your kids.
Bubble Science Lab
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What is a Bubble? How is it Formed?
A bubble is quite simply a thin film of liquid solution that forms an air filled sphere.
Think of it as a tiny balloon made out of soap and water.
Bubble juice is a mixture of soapy water or if you want to get sciencey, it’s a mixture of water, a surfactant (the soap) and a polymer (in our case sugar or corn syrup). The polymer helps the bubbles close and hold their shape.
The way it works is that the soap reduces the surface tension of the water, which allows the water molecules to spread out and form a thin film.
When you dip a wand into a bubble solution you can see it stretch across the opening of a wand. As you blow air into this film, the soapy water stretches and expands – then it traps the air inside, and snaps shut making a bubble.
Want to learn more about the science behind bubbles? Check out this Bubble Science Experiment.
Why are Bubbles Round?
Bubbles tend to be round, known as a sphere. Why? A sphere has the smallest surface area for a given volume and a bubble will always adapt to use the least amount of soap film to enclose the most air. That’s why bubbles are round!
Bubble Juice Solution Recipes
We made a couple of different homemade bubble solutions with a couple of different additives to compare which is the best bubble juice and then had a ton of fun testing them out! Which is the best bubble solution recipe? You decide!
Time to make the juice!
Bubble solutions will always be made up of 2 things – some kind of soap and some water. A lot of homemade bubble solutions will also incorporate an added ingredient to help slow down evaporation to help the bubbles last longer!
Ingredients & Supplies
Dawn Blue Dish Soap
Johnson’s Baby Shampoo
Corn Syrup
White Sugar
Water
Containers
You will also need:
Pipe Cleaners
Straws or Bubble Wands
Labels or Tape
Marker
Finding the Best Bubble Solution Recipe
We will make two recipes with each kind of soap – one with corn syrup, one with sugar – which will give us 4 solutions in all to test out.
Recipe Ratios:
For each recipe we will use the same ratios
½ cup soap
3 cups water
1 Tablespoon sugar or corn syrup
Directions
First we need to label each of the 4 containers: Dawn/Sugar, Dawn/Corn Syrup, Johnson’s/Sugar, Johnson’s/Corn Syrup.
Add the proper ingredients to each container. Then gently stir.
Let it rest. Give the solutions a good hour to rest after combining them.
While they’re resting, make your wands.
Simple Homemade Bubble Wands
Simple Bubble Wands are a breeze to make – all you need are some pipe cleaners.
Bend a pipe cleaner into a closed shape leaving a tail for a handle. You can bend it into any shape, it’s actually a cool extension to ask the kids what they think will happen to their bubbles if they blow through a square wand.
Twist the end around the tail to close your shape. You could add beads to the tails or twist two pipe cleaners together to form a thicker wand if the kids want a sturdier wand to work with – we didn’t find it necessary.
Time to Find the Best Bubble Solution
Now for the real fun – start blowing bubbles!
Have the kids test out each solution one at a time. Take note of how big the bubbles are. How long they last. How far they fly. Keep track of your findings either by writing your results down in a notebook or video recording your tests and experiments.
Keep in mind that things like weather and temperature can affect the bubbles too. Add some extra testing by trying the solutions inside and outside and compare the results. We stuck to outside since we were at school and didn’t want to cause any slippery hazards. However, it would be easier to control those results at home.
The Best Homemade Bubble Solution Based on Testing
So who was the winner? For our experiment it was….. (drumroll please)
Solution #1 – Dawn dish soap and plain table sugar!
All of the solutions actually gave us pretty amazing bubbles, but the first one just edged them all out for size and longevity. It was definitely a memorable afternoon and lots of fun for everyone – even me!
If you’re looking for more bubble fun – check out these other amazing bubble projects, Giant Bubbles, Frozen Bubbles, and Bubble Science!
Bubble Rainbows
Did you notice that some of your bubbles have rainbows? Not only is it extra pretty, but it is also fascinating science! The rainbows are due to light refraction and we have some great experiments exploring that science too that will be available September 22! Join our mailing list to ensure you don’t miss out.
BUBBLE BONUS – Bubble Art
If you’re looking for a fun bubble extension – or you want even more ideas for hosting an entire bubble day, you need to try some bubble art! It is so much fun and the results are just beautiful!
What do you need?
Bubble Solution: You can use one of the bubble solutions above or some commercial bubble solution if the art is all you’re tackling for the day.
Bubble Wands
Food Coloring
Cardstock or Watercolor Paper
How to make Bubble Art
Add a few drops of food coloring to the bubble solution. You can use just one color, or split it up and try multiple colors.
Lay your paper down on a flat surface and gently blow bubbles above it, allow the bubbles to fall to the paper and pop naturally.
The results will range from soft bubble shapes to cool bubble splatters.
You can use a straw to blow multiple tiny bubbles directly onto the paper.
Play around with techniques and see what amazing art your bubbles can make!
For even more bubble art, check out Owl Bubble Art Painting and Craft for Kids
