Water-Only Thin Films In Space

If you've ever waved a bubble wand (or mixed some of your own with detergent, glycerine and water), you might be surprized to find that in space, it's much less complicated to form a film of liquid: all you need is water. The embedded videos are nifty, and render nicely in Mozilla.

Comments

Re:It's True, You don't need soap!

[sporty]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is how I learned it.

The only reason a bubble will ever stay intact is if the surface tension is even, with all bubbles on earth that are liquid. No one start on me about glass :P).

The reason bubbles pop is due to gravity pulling the liquid down, causing a collection at the bottom in the case of light bubbles. The air stays up, the liquid wants to go down. Since liquid is liquid (liquidity!) it collects at the bottom of the bubble. So you have 3 forces contending. Gravity pulling down, surface tension and the air inside preventing it from becoming a drop of water.

Eventually, the liquid gathers at the bottom. Air can't escape yet 'cause it's a bubble. The liquid gathering on the bottom is from the surface of the bubble.. The surface of the bubble becomes thinner until it can't hold. Then, pop, it falls down (not outward).

Am I right?