Why do bubbles pop? + more videos | #aumsum #kids #science #education #children

A bubble is basically a pocket of air surrounded by a thin tenuous layer of soapy water. This thin layer can be of just water too, but such bubbles don't float.

Now, bubbles form because of a special property of water molecules to attract and stick to each other. These attractive forces between water molecules produce what's called surface tension. This surface tension along with the air pressure from inside and outside the bubble create a fragile equilibrium and keep the bubble form popping.

However, since the equilibrium is fragile, just a gust of wind or our dry finger easily breaks the surface tension, thus breaking the tenuous layer and causing the bubble to pop. Besides this, dry air also causes the water to evaporate from the tenuous layer. Hence, it gradually gets thinner and thinner and eventually, the bubble pops.