Blowing bubbles is always fun, but have you ever made bouncing bubbles?! There’s something pretty magical about blowing a bubble you can hold and bounce on your hand. Make our easy bouncing bubbles recipe in only a few minutes to create hours of fun!
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What is the science behind the bubble experiment?
To understand how bouncing bubbles work you need to know a little bit about how bubbles are formed. A bubble is formed from two layers of soap surrounding a thin layer of water, with air in the center. Water bubbles pop very easily on their own because water is not very stretchy, and it wants to return to its original form. When you add soap to the water, the surface tension (the force between the water molecules at the water’s surface) decreases. This allows the water to stretch around the bubble. When you add sugar to the soap and water mixture, it creates a stronger, thicker bubble. This allows you to hold and bounce the bubble, but why? A bubble bursts when the water between the soap molecules evaporates. The sugar forms a bond with the water molecules, reducing the speed at which the water evaporates. This makes the bubble stronger, and allows it to last longer. You can also use corn syrup or glycerin, instead of sugar, to make a strong DIY bubble solution.
What kind of gloves do you need to make bouncing bubbles?
The only gloves that worked for us are soft winter gloves. We also tried to bounce the bubbles on nitrile gloves, TPE gloves, and rubber gloves, but none of them worked! The soft texture of the cotton winter gloves seems to gives extra cushion to protect the surface tension of the bubble. If you don’t have winter gloves handy, put a clean sock on your hand. It’s the perfect use for a lone sock!
Can you use store bought bubble solution to make bouncing bubbles?
Yes, we had good luck making bouncing bubbles with dollar store bubble mixture. Simply mix 1/3 cup of bubble solution with 2 Tablespoons of sugar.
Make our easy bouncing bubbles recipe, no glycerin or corn syrup required! It’s such a a cool science experiment, and a fun summer activity that’s great for sensory play. Try different sizes of bubble wands to create smaller and larger bubbles. Which ones bounces better? Then have a fun competition to see who can get the most bounces!
Here’s even more fun bubble recipe ideas:
Blowing Bubble Towers
How to Make Big Bubbles
How to Make Bubble Snakes
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
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