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An Electrified Soap Bubble: Theoretical Competition: 12 July 2011

This document presents a series of questions regarding an electrified soap bubble surrounded by air. 1) The ratio of the internal air density to the external air density is found to depend on the surface tension, atmospheric pressure, and bubble radius. 2) Numerically, using given values, the ratio of internal to external air densities is found to be less than 1. 3) The minimum internal air temperature is calculated such that the bubble can float in still air, using given constants and properties.

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Cretu Nicolae
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81 views

An Electrified Soap Bubble: Theoretical Competition: 12 July 2011

This document presents a series of questions regarding an electrified soap bubble surrounded by air. 1) The ratio of the internal air density to the external air density is found to depend on the surface tension, atmospheric pressure, and bubble radius. 2) Numerically, using given values, the ratio of internal to external air densities is found to be less than 1. 3) The minimum internal air temperature is calculated such that the bubble can float in still air, using given constants and properties.

Uploaded by

Cretu Nicolae
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Theoretical Competition: 12 July 2011

Question 2 Page 1 of 2

2. An Electrified Soap Bubble

A spherical soap bubble with internal air density !i , temperature Ti and radius R0 is surrounded by
air with density !a , atmospheric pressure Pa and temperature Ta . The soap film has surface tension
! , density !s and thickness t . The mass and the surface tension of the soap do not change with the
temperature. Assume that R0 ! t .

The increase in energy, dE , that is needed to increase the surface area of a soap-air interface by dA ,
is given by dE = !dA where ! is the surface tension of the film.

!iTi
2.1 Find the ratio in terms of ! , Pa and R0 . [1.7 point]
!aTa

!iTi
2.2 Find the numerical value of ! 1 using ! = 0.0250 Nm!1, R0 = 1.00 cm , and
!aTa
Pa =1.013 !105 Nm"2 . [0.4 point]

2.3 The bubble is initially formed with warmer air inside. Find the minimum numerical value
of Ti such that the bubble can float in still air. Use Ta = 300 K , !s = 1000 kgm!3 ,
!a = 1.30 kgm!3 , t = 100 nm and g = 9.80 ms!2 . [2.0 points]

After the bubble is formed for a while, it will be in thermal equilibrium with the surrounding. This
bubble in still air will naturally fall towards the ground.

2.4 Find the minimum velocity u of an updraught (air flowing upwards) that will keep the
bubble from falling at thermal equilibrium. Give your answer in terms of !s , R0, g, t and
the air’s coefficient of viscosity ! . You may assume that the velocity is small such that
Stokes’s law applies, and ignore the change in the radius when the temperature lowers to
the equilibrium. The drag force from Stokes’ Law is F = 6!"R0u .
[1.6points]

2.5 Calculate the numerical value for u using ! =1.8!10"5 kgm"1 s"1 . [0.4 point]

The above calculations suggest that the terms involving the surface tension ! add very little to the
accuracy of the result. In all of the questions below, you can neglect the surface tension terms.
Theoretical Competition: 12 July 2011
Question 2 Page 2 of 2

2.6 If this spherical bubble is now electrified uniformly with a total charge q , find an equation
describing the new radius R1 in terms of R0, Pa , q and the permittivity of free space !0 .
[2.0points]

q2
2.7 Assume that the total charge is not too large (i.e. << Pa ) and the bubble only
!0R04
experiences a small increase in its radius, find !R where R1 = R0 + !R .
n
Given that (1 + x) ! 1 + nx where x ! 1 . [0.7 point]

2.8 What must be the magnitude of this charge q in terms of t, !a , !s , !0,R0,Pa in order that the
bubble will float motionlessly in still air? Calculate also the numerical value of q . The
permittivity of free space !0 = 8.85!10"12 farad/m . [1.2 point]

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