Most people enjoy the simple pleasure of creating bubbles using soap and water or a handybubble gun, but have you ever wondered why these bubbles come out in such a uniform, spherical form? The answer delves into the fascinating realmof physics and the special behaviors of liquids.
Soap bubbles are formed when air molecules become trapped inside a thin layer of soapy water, giving them a shimmeringappearance. As a liquid, the soapy film takes up the smallest possible surface area—water molecules naturally do this to achieve the most stable state. And guess what shape has the least surface area for a given volume? A sphere! When the water molecules in the film stick together trying to minimizethe surface area, a round shape is formed.
When water molecules stick together, this also creates surface tension. This surface tension acts like a stretchyskin that resists outside forces. Meanwhile, the air molecules inside the bubble are pushing outwardstrying to escape, but the surface tension pushes back with an equal and opposite force. It’s like a tug-of-war, but perfectly balanced, and this balance of forces is what keeps the bubble together.
Bubbles are also easy to burstbecause their existence all hinges on the thin film. A collisionwith the ground or a wall can rupture this delicate membrane. Likewise, too much air pushed inside or excessive stretching of liquid surfaces canspell doomfor bubbles. And then, with a soft pop, the bubble disappears,leaving behind a fleetingmemory. This is a reminder that even the simplest joys are governedby intricate forces.
What Did You Learn?
1. Why do soap bubbles form spherical shapes?
2. How does surface tension help maintain the shape of soap bubbles?
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
handy
[ˋhændɪ]
a. 在手邊的；方便的
You’d better carry an umbrella with you; it may come in handy.
你最好帶把傘，它可能隨時會派得上用場。
This new kitchen gadget is very handy.
這個新的廚房器具使用方便。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
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spherical
[ˋsfɛrək!] [ˋsfɪrək!]
a. 球形／體的
Some bacteria are spherical in shape.
有些細菌呈球狀。
●
sphere
[sfɪr]
n. 球體；領域
From space, the Earth looks like a big blue and white sphere.
地球在外太空中看起來像是個大型藍白相間的球體。
Thomas has been involved in the political sphere since he was young.
湯瑪士自年輕時就投身政治領域。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
realm
[rɛlm]
n. 領土；（知識、興趣的）範圍
Henry is an expert in the realm of gardening. 在園藝的領域中，亨利是個專家。
Life existing on other planets is not beyond the realm of possibility.
生命存在於其他星球並非不可能的事。
高中 Level 5
●
shimmering
[ˋʃɪmɚrɪŋ]
a. 閃閃發光的
The city skyline at night was a sight to behold, with shimmering skyscrapers illuminated against the dark sky.
夜晚的城市天際線是個值得觀賞的景象 ── 閃閃發光的高樓大廈點亮了黑暗的天空。
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minimize
[ˋmɪnə͵maɪz]
vt. 使降到最低 ; 輕描淡寫
The medicine the doctor gave you should minimize your pain.
醫生給你的藥應該可以將你的疼痛降至最低。
Tom tends to minimize his health problems because he doesn’t want others to worry about or feel sorry for him.
湯姆往往對他的健康問題輕描淡寫，因為他不想讓別人替他 擔心或難過。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
tension
[ˋtɛnʃən]
n. 緊張
=
nervousness
There was a lot of tension between the two countries after the terrorist attack.
發生恐攻後，兩國之間的關係很緊張。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
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stretchy
[ˋstrɛtʃɪ]
a. 有彈性的
The fabric of the leggings is stretchy, allowing for comfortable movement during exercise.
緊身褲的布料彈性十足，讓你運動時能夠舒適自在地動。
●
outwards
[ˋaʊtwɚdz]
adv. 向外地
Ed extended his arm outwards, gesturing towards the beautiful landscape in front of him.
艾德向外伸出手臂，指向眼前的美麗景色。
●
burst
[bɝst]
vt. & vi. （使）爆破 / 炸
n. 爆破 / 炸，噴；（感情）爆發
三態
burst / burst [bɝst] / burst [bɝst]
The little boy used a needle to burst the balloon.
小男孩用一根針刺破氣球。
Melissa burst out crying when she heard about the accident.
梅莉莎聽到關於這個意外的消息就大哭了起來。
Melissa burst into tears when she heard about the accident.
梅莉莎聽到關於這個意外的消息就大哭了起來。
We could hear the bomb burst in the distance.
我們可以聽到遠處炸彈爆炸的聲響。
Do you know what caused the burst of water?
你知道造成水噴出來的原因嗎？
Tommy gave a loud burst of laughter when he heard my joke.
湯米聽到我講的笑話就放聲大笑。
多益藍色
英檢初級
高中 Level 2
●
collision
[kəˋlɪʒən]
n. . 相撞；（不同文化等的）碰撞，衝突
Due to the poor weather, there were some major collisions on the nation’s highways that resulted in
serious injuries.
由於天候惡劣，國道發生了一些嚴重的撞車事故，造成很多
人受傷。
Every time Debbie and her French boyfriend have
a discussion, a collision of cultures occurs, which
usually results in an argument.
每次黛比和她法國男友討論事情時，都會有文化衝突，而通
常這都會讓他們吵架。
高中 Level 6
●
fleeting
[ˋflitɪŋ]
adj. 短暫的
●
govern
[ˋgʌvɚn]
vt. 統治，治理；管理，控制
=
rule
The president has governed that country for the last ten years.
該位總統在過去的 10 年一直統治著那國家。
Many people think we should change the laws that govern charities.
很多人認為我們應該改變管理慈善機構的法律。
高中 Level 2
●
delve
[dɛlv]
vi. 探索，探究
Psychologists delved into the man’s past to see what turned him into a murderer.
心理學家探究那個人的過去，以了解是什麼使他變成一個殺人犯。
●
doom
[dum]
n. . 劫數，厄運
Sensing that he was about to get fired, Arthur walked
into the boss’ office with a feeling of doom.
亞瑟感到自己要被解僱了，於是他帶著一種劫數難逃的感覺
走進了老闆的辦公室。
The general’s terrible decision on the battlefield doomed his army to failure.
該將軍在戰場上所做的決定很糟糕，而使其軍隊注定要打敗
仗。
高中 Level 6
Extra Words
●
physics
[ˋfɪzɪks]
n. 物理學
The Nobel Prize winner used to teach physics at a famous university in California.
這位諾貝爾獎得主曾在加州某知名大學教過物理學。
高中 Level 4
●
molecule
[ˋmɑlə͵kjul]
n. 分子
A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
一個水分子包含兩個氫原子和一個氧原子。
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
film
[fɪlm]
vt. & vi. 拍攝 (成電影)
n. 電影，影片;底片
三態
film / filmed [fɪlmd] / filmed [fɪlmd]
The team is making a film in Italy.
這個團隊正在義大利拍電影。
The team is shooting a film in Italy.
這個團隊正在義大利拍電影。
The team is filming in Italy.
這個團隊正在義大利拍電影。
I d like to buy two rolls of film.
我想買 2 捲底片。
The TV ad was filmed in the Sahara Desert.
這部電視廣告是在撒哈拉沙漠拍攝的。
高中 Level 1
●
tug-of-war
[ˌtʌgəv'wɔr]
n. 拔河比賽（可數）
My class played against Christine’s in a tug-of-war.
我這班和克莉絲汀她那班比賽拔河。
Psychologists delved into the man’s past to consider why he became a murderer.
心理學家探究那個人的過去，來探討他為何成了一名凶手。
●
take up...
接受⋯⋯（挑戰、建議等）；從事⋯⋯；開始學⋯⋯；占據⋯⋯(時間或空間)
Tai Tzu-ying's surprising performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has encouraged many people in Taiwan to take up badminton.
在 2020 東京奧運中戴資穎出乎意料的表現已經鼓舞許多臺灣人開始學羽毛球。
My suitcase takes up a lot of space in my bedroom closet.
我的行李箱占了房間衣櫃很多空間。
●
hinge on
依⋯⋯而定
The outcome hinges on your input.
結果如何要依你投注的心力而定。
●
spell doom
帶來毀滅
Spending without a budget could spell doom for our financial stability.
花費無預算上限可能會毀掉我們的財務穩定。
●
leave... behind / leave behind...
拋下⋯⋯；留下⋯⋯
Sam could not leave behind the fun of city life, so he chose to work in the big city.
山姆無法拋下都市生活的樂趣，所以選擇在大城市工作。
