This has been dubbed the double bubble conjecture.īecause of these qualities, soap bubbles films have been used with practical problem solving application. Schwarz), it was not until 2000 that it was proven that two merged soap bubbles provide the optimum way of enclosing two given volumes of air of different size with the least surface area.

While it has been known since 1884 that a spherical soap bubble is the least-area way of enclosing a given volume of air (a theorem of H.

A soap bubble is a closed soap film: due to the difference in outside and inside pressure, it is a surface of constant mean curvature. A true minimal surface is more properly illustrated by a soap film, which has equal pressure on inside as outside, hence is a surface with zero mean curvature. They will assume the shape of least surface area possible containing a given volume. Soap bubbles are physical examples of the complex mathematical problem of minimal surface. Depending on the thickness of the film, different colours interfere constructively and destructively. Unlike those seen in a rainbow, which arise from differential refraction, the colours seen in a soap bubble arise from interference of light reflecting off the front and back surfaces of the thin soap film. When light shines onto a bubble it appears to change colour. Assembling several bubbles results in foam. They are often used for children's enjoyment, but they are also used in artistic performances. Soap bubbles usually last for only a few seconds before bursting, either on their own or on contact with another object. A soap bubble is an extremely thin film of soapy water enclosing air that forms a hollow sphere with an iridescent surface.

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