Bubble Life Span & Temperature (Chelsey Traylor)

The dependent variable is the life span of the soap bubbles in time (minutes). The dependent variable will be measured by taking time measurements until the soap bubbles have popped.

Series

Study the life span of soap bubbles (dependent variable) under different temperatures (independent variable) for 15 minutes (series).

Constants and Controls

The constants are the:

• type of jar used

• type of soap bubbles used

• amount of soap bubbles used

• same beaker to hold the water

• time at which the jars with the soap bubbles are placed in each temperature of water

The control is the water at room temperature (20^oC).

Materials

• bubble solution (fromTarget)

• baby food jars with lids (from the grocery store)

• camera

• room temperature water (20^oC)

• hot plate

• 1000 mL beakers (3)

• water

• ice

• thermometers

Procedures

1. Prepare three water baths in the 1000 mL beakers by filling up each beaker with 600 mL of water.

2. Place one beaker on a hot plate. Turn the knob to the highest temperature setting to heat the water to 100^oC.

3. Place a handful of ice in the second beaker.

4. Place the third beaker aside for the room temperature water.

5. Fill each baby food jar with a teaspoon of bubble solution.

6. Swirl the baby food jar to allow the bubble solution to coat the sides of the jar. Let the excess bubble solution sit at the bottom of each jar.

7. When the water on the hot plate has begun to boil, place the baby food jars in each of the three water baths for 15 minutes.

8. Record the temperature of the hot water, ice water, and room temperature water in the data table.

9. After 15 minutes, take out each jar from their respective water bath. Use caution when removing the jar from the hot water bath with a pair of tongs.

10. Using a straw, blow into the soap solution until bubbles fill the jar. Replace the lid.

11. Repeat step #10 for the the room temperature water and cold water.

12. Time how long it takes for the soap bubbles to completely disappear inside of the jar. Record the time in minutes in the data table.

Sample data and graphs

Data Table

Graph

Analysis & Conclusions

The life span of the bubbles lasted the longest in the ice water temperature in comparison to the control jar (room temperature) and the hot water. The molecules in the hot bubble solution were moving much faster due to a larger amount of kinetic energy due to being heated up in comparison the the molecules in the ice water and room temperature water environments. The bubbles in the hot water environment are evaporating at a much faster rate than in the cold water environment.

Photos & Movies