Bubble formation is governed by one simple rule: minimize surface area. Free-floating bubbles are spherical because that’s the most efficient way to enclose a given volume of air. Give a soap film edges to stretch between, and its behavior gets interesting!
Try building geometric bubble frames out of drinking straws and pipe cleaners. Create corner connections by bending pipe cleaners into small star shapes. A star connector should have one point for each edge you’d like to attach to it. Insert the points of the stars into the ends of drinking straw segments to assemble your apparatus. This method is great for outlining prisms and platonic solids.
Curved shapes are fun to experiment with, too! Bend wire into a helix, cylinder, or drum shape for a different take on bubble geometry. How many kinds of frames can you come up with?
Written By: Caela Barry
