It's very cold tonight, so we played with bubbles If you blow them upwards enough they have time to freeze on the way down.
Skipweasel took photographs of the experiments in blowing soap bubbles in freezing weather. The pictures are wild -especially when you see a frozen bubble bursting! Link
Comments (24)
Hi Skipweasel
I can't find a contact email for you anywhere so will post here... We'd love to do a story on your bubbles & try & get it published in newspapers & Magazines.
Please contact me on dmurray@rexfeatures.com or bbbloke@hotmail.com
Regards
Dean
Perhaps it has something to do with the old addage "heat rises" and heat escaping from the top? I'm not certain of that...
Despite the appearences, I believe the colder water molecules rise very quickly forming this 'top down' freezing. Without experiemntation with the right equipment, however, I can't say conclusively.
see this! Thanks Miss C!
Marco:- I'll try an experiment tonight if it's cold enough - a bit of tinfoil above a bubble should even out the temperature difference and see if it makes any difference.
JohnnyCat:- the viewer is JAlbum, a bit of freeware that I'm always happy to promote. Google will turn it up for you.
It's because the solution is mostly water, and water (unlike most substances) is actually less dense as a solid than a liquid. Most substances, when frozen, will sink in their own liquid versions (as they are more dense). But not water!
So, ice will always form at the top of water and move downwards, unless a large outside influence changes this (like a temperature differential above the freezing water, etc..).
SparkS:- It was about -5°C and very still. We had to blow the bubbles with a toy electric bubble blower - using breath made them too warm to freeze before they hit the ground.
Thanks for the added info, it gets below that here so there's hope. Never would have figured in the heat of our breath. I actually have a bubble blower, or used to. Seem to remember it took a LOT of batteries. Can't find it but I know I bought 3 of them, don't ask, and kind of gave one to someone for her grandson. He was way too young so I'll try and get it back in the name of science. Sounds better than being an Indian giver. It also came with bubble juice so I may not need to buy any.
Perhaps it has something to do with the old addage "heat rises" and heat escaping from the top? I'm not certain of that...
Despite the appearences, I believe the colder water molecules rise very quickly forming this 'top down' freezing. Without experiemntation with the right equipment, however, I can't say conclusively.
Hi Skipweasel
I can't find a contact email for you anywhere so will post here... We'd love to do a story on your bubbles & try & get it published in newspapers & Magazines.
Please contact me on dmurray@rexfeatures.com or bbbloke@hotmail.com
Regards
Dean