Materials
- Bowl
- Water
- Dish soap
- Scissors
- Plastic water bottle
- Craft stick
- Sock
- Food coloring (optional)
- Rubber band
Method
- Gather your materials.
- Pour 2 cups of water into a bowl.
- Add ¼ cup of dish soap to the bowl and stir with a craft stick.
- Use scissors to carefully cut off the bottom of the water bottle.
- Put a sock over the bigger end of the water bottle and secure it with a rubber band.
- Dip the sock into the soapy solution.
- Optional: put a few drops of food coloring on the sock.
- Blow gently into the smaller end of the bottle.
- Watch your bubble snake grow!
Why Did This Happen?
Water mixed with soap decreases the water’s surface tension. A soap bubble filled with air is made of three very thin layers: soap, water, and another layer of soap. This makes a “water sandwich”. As you blow, tiny bubbles are formed and squeezed together through the fabric of the sock, creating the shape of a snake.
Extend Your Learning
- Does the bubble look different if you use socks of different materials (try dress socks or tights)?
- What happens if you change the amount of water or soap in your bubble solution?
- What might happen to the strength of your bubble if you were to add vegetable oil or corn syrup?
This experiment was adapted from the Michigan Learning Channel.
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