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Investigating Bubbles

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IMG_3642Who doesn’t love bubbles, little orbs floating in the air, colors swirling on their surfaces, the fleeting moments you have to watch them before they pop into thin air? Not only are bubbles fun, they are a wonderful medium for experimentation and were the topic of our latest science training “Investigating Bubbles.”

Most people I know have had only a limited experience with the many ways to play with bubbles.  They might have used a variety of bubble wands or an automated bubble blower, but most have never made a bubble wall with a dowel rod and two pieces of string or blown bubbles right on the table with a straw.

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Using everyday, inexpensive items from around the house, there are endless creative ways to experiment with bubbles. Basically any object with a hole can be used, cookie cutters, rubber bands, pieces of string, cardboard tubes, funnels, even a Slinky…the list goes on and on.

The biggest hit of the night was being able to hold a bubble in your hand, and all you need is a winter knitted glove, the kind you can find for $1. With gloves on you can hold and bounce a bubble in your hand! The other secret to holding bubbles is to make your own bubble solution. It is so much better than the store bought kind. It will also make longer lasting bubbles if you make it ahead of time and let the solution sit for at least a day.

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Ultimate Bubble Recipe

1 gallon water

1 cup Dawn or Joy Dishwashing Liquid

1/8 cup of Glycerin (found at drug stores

 

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