Bubble Lab
Purpose:
Using bubble diameters to determine the relationship between centimeters and inches.
Equipment: Soapy water, Straws, Rulers (inches and centimeters)
Procedure:
1. Make your lab table slightly soapy by pouring a small amount of bubble solution on the table.
2. Use your straw to blow a bubble on the table. Try to make it as large as you can.
3. When the bubble pops, it will leave a soap ring on the table. Measure the diameter of this soap ring in
inches and centimeters and record the data on your data table.
4. Repeat this process 5 times (I want you to blow and measure a total of 5 bubbles)
Data/Graphs:
1. Copy the following data table onto a blank sheet of notebook paper:
Inches
Bubble #1
Bubble #2
Bubble #3
Bubble #4
Bubble #5
__________in
__________in
__________in
__________in
__________in
(x)
Centimeters (y)
__________cm
__________cm
__________cm
__________cm
__________cm
2. Make a graph of the data. Put inches on the x-axis and centimeters on the y-axis. Use Logger Pro. Make
sure you title the x-axis and the y-axis. You will have to do your graph in NUMERICAL ORDER.
Meaning lowest numbers first! Otherwise your line will look funny.
3. Find the slope of the entire line you just created. You will want to do a “linear fit”.
4. Find the slope BETWEEN each two set of points. To do this in GA, be sure to drag the mouse across the
place where the two dots are and then choose “linear fit”.
Conclusion/Questions:
1. Look at the following examples of some common conversions. Then, fill in the blank for cm/inch.
3 feet
1609 meters
12 eggs
? cm
1 yard
1 mile
1 dozen
1 inch
2. Now that you have decided how many centimeters are in 1 inch, how many inches are in one centimeter?
? inches
1 cm
3. If you blew bubbles with the following diameters in centimeters, how big would they be in inches? You
need to show your conversion work and round to one number after the decimal point.
a. 16.0 cm
b. 28.0 cm
c. 32.1 cm
(answer: 6.30 inches)
4. If you blew bubbles with the following diameters in inches, how big would they be in centimeters? You
need to show your conversion work and round to one number after the decimal point.
a. 18.0 in
b. 25.6 in
c. 91.5 in
(answer: 45.7 cm)
5. On the back-side of your bubble graph, draw a graph of the following data. Remember to label your x and
y axis. Connect the dots too!
Monkey Toenails (x-axis)
lbs (y-axis)
5
20
30
0.5
2.0
3.0
6. What is the slope of this line?
7. Fill in the following conversions:
? Monkey Toenails and ? lbs________
1 lb
1 Monkey Toenail
8. Your Uncle Billy leaves you 50 Monkey Toenails in his will (you were always his favorite). How many
pounds of toenails do you have? Show your conversion work using either one of the
conversions you discovered in question #7.
What is due for this lab and in what order?
1. Open MS-WORD. Your entire report must be in MS-WORD. You will need to COPY-PASTE
Logger Pro data tables and graphs into an MS-WORD document.
2. COPY-PASTE your Logger Pro data table and Logger Pro graph on your lab. This should be the FIRST
thing on your lab. Make sure that the Logger Pro graph CLEARLY has the axis’ labeled
and shows the “linear fit” box on it (which tells the slope)
3. Underneath the Logger Pro Graph, I want you to list the slopes between dot 1 and dot 2. Between dot 2 and
dot 3. Between dot 3 and dot 4. Between dot 4 and dot 5. AND for the entire line.
5. Answer the 8 conclusion/questions. You can write these using a pen/pencil if you find that easier. They
don’t need to be typed. THEY DO need to have work shown for problems #3-#8. If
you don’t show work for these, there will be major points deducted.