Bubblarium

1. Bubblarium

2. Have You Ever… • Wondered how bubbles get those amazing colors. • Today you will make an observatory to find out.

3. Bubble Juice • 1 gallon water     2/3 cup dishwashing soap • Mix the ingredients together in a big bucket or dishpan.

4. Materials • small clear plastic lid (from yogurt or margarine container) • clear plastic tape • flashlight that works • bubble juice (see recipe below) • spoon • straw • room you can make dark

5. Step 1 • Tape the plastic lid over the end of the flashlight the light shines from. • Turn the flashlight on and hold it so the light shines straight up.

6. Dip your finger in the bubble juice and wet the lid. Put a spoonful of bubble juice on the lid. With a straw, blow one big bubble to make a bubble dome that covers the whole lid. Step 2

7. Step 3 • Turn off the lights and hold the flashlight so that the bottom of the bubble dome is just above your eyebrows.

8. Step 4 • Watch the swirling colors. If you put the wet straw into the bubble dome and blow very gently, you can move the colors around.

9. Watch the colors. How many do you see? If you watch a bubble for a few minutes, do the colors change? What colors do you see right before the bubble pops? Do you ever see black and white polka dots? Step 5

10. Step 6 • From what you have observed explain in a paragraph why are soap bubbles so colorful? • Take into consideration the flashlight.

11. Final Step • You have seen the light this activity is over!