- #1
Manis
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"Diameter of a soap bubble increases when it is charged." why?
Diameter of a soap bubble increases when it is charged
In summary, when a soap bubble is charged with the same type of charge, such as electrons, its diameter increases. This is due to the repulsive force between the charged particles, causing the bubble to expand. However, this is not always the case and should be tested through experimentation rather than blindly accepting it as a fact.
- #2
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It is charged with the SAME type of charge, i.e. say you put a lot of electrons on it. Now think of what an electron would like to do to another electron (other than sucker punch it or flip its spin).
Zz.
- #3
Hootenanny
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
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ZapperZ said:
- #4
xts
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Don't believe everything you are told. Take an experimantalist's approach. Make a soap bubble. Then charge it with electricity made with a piece of plastic rubbed by woolen cloth.Manis said:
I guess this is one more most-stupid-example-found-in-school-textbook-on-physics making kids hating physics and showing them that physics is a set of formulae and rules predicting world behaviour contrary to their own experience.
- #5
xts
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@ZapperZ - excercise for you:
A bubble 1cm in diameter, normal air pressure.
Charge it to 100,000V (or 1 million...)
Compute 'increase' of diameter.
Related to Diameter of a soap bubble increases when it is charged
1. Why does the diameter of a soap bubble increase when it is charged?
When a soap bubble is charged, it becomes polarized, meaning that one side of the bubble has a positive charge and the other has a negative charge. This creates an electric field between the two sides, causing the bubble to expand as the positive and negative charges repel each other.
2. How does the charge affect the surface tension of the soap bubble?
The electric field created by the charges on the soap bubble disrupts the balance of surface tension, which is the force that holds the bubble together. As a result, the surface tension decreases and the bubble is able to expand larger than it would without the charge.
3. Does the type of charge affect the diameter of the soap bubble?
Yes, the type of charge on the soap bubble can affect its diameter. When the bubble is positively charged, it will repel other positively charged objects, causing the bubble to expand further. The same is true for negatively charged bubbles. However, if the bubble is charged with both positive and negative charges, the diameter may not increase as much due to the opposing forces balancing each other out.
4. Can the diameter of a soap bubble continue to increase indefinitely when it is charged?
No, the diameter of a soap bubble will eventually reach a maximum size when it is charged. This is because as the bubble expands, the surface area also increases, meaning there is more surface for the charges to be spread out over. Eventually, the repelling force between the charges becomes equal to the surface tension, resulting in a stable size for the bubble.
5. How can we measure the diameter of a charged soap bubble?
The diameter of a charged soap bubble can be measured using a ruler or caliper. Alternatively, a laser can be shone through the bubble and the diameter can be measured by the change in position of the laser beam. It is important to note that the measurement may vary depending on the location of the bubble due to the uneven distribution of charges on its surface.
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