Soda Can Soap Bubbles
Name _______________________ Number ___
Problem: How can we blow soap bubbles with soda cans?
Materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Procedure A:
1. Dip the open end of your soda can into the soap bubble mixture.
2. Rub your two hands together briskly. Get them nice and hot!
3. Gently wrap you hands around your soda can.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO SQUEEZE OR BEND THE CAN.
Observations:
A. What happened to the soap bubble solution on top of your aluminum can?
B. Predict what would happen to the soap bubble solution on the top of your
aluminum can if you could somehow cool the outside of the can.
Procedure B: Testing Your Prediction
1. Rub an ice cube or place the can in an ice bath to cool the gas particles down.
Repeat if necessary.
Procedure C:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Clean off your soda can and allow it to come back to room temperature.
Insert the thermometer into the soda can opening.
Record the temperature in the table below.
Rub your hands together briskly (again) and gently wrap them around the
outside of the can. Have your lab partner insert the thermometer and read the
temperature when it reaches it highest point.
5. Switch jobs. Rub an ice cube around the outside of the can (again). The other
partner needs to read the thermometer and record the temperature in the
chart.
SODA CAN
TEMPERATURE
Room Temp.
Warm Hand Rub
After Ice Rub
Conclusions: (To be answered on a separate piece of paper in complete sentences)
1. Why did rubbing your hands together briskly and then placing them around
the soda can cause a soap bubble to form?
2. When you cooled the can by rubbing an ice cube on the outside, why did the
soap bubble disappear? Where did it go?
3. How does temperature affect the motion of gas molecules?
4. What instrument is used to measure the movement of particles?
5.
How does this lab relate to Charles’ law? (refer to Section 3 in your textbook)
6. What, if any, were possible sources of error during these experiments?