Hooked on Science: Solar eclipse box

Materials

• Plastic wading pool
• Water
• Light corn syrup
• Clear dishwashing liquid
• Hula hoop
• Bubble wand

Instructions

• STEP 1: Mix together 6 gallons of water, 2 gallons of clear dishwashing liquid and 1 gallon of light corn syrup. Describe the mixture by using its observable properties.
• STEP 2: Dip the bubble wand into the mixture and blow bubbles. Describe how a bubble can be used as a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.
• STEP 3: Place the hula hoop into the pool, stand a child in the center of the pool, slowly lift the hula hoop above the child's head and observe. Describe a bubble by using its observable properties.

Explanation

A bubble is a thin film of soapy water, filled with air. A bubble contains three main layers. Sandwiched between two soapy layers, is a layer of water. Bubbles burst when this layer of water evaporates. The corn syrup creates bonds with the water molecules and slows down the evaporation process, creating a stronger bubble.