Thread: bubble's shape and pressure

Originally Posted by [url

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100609131633.htm[/url]]The curved nature of the bubble plays a critical role, as the shape leads to higher pressure on the inside than on the outside of the bubble.

I understand that the inside of the bubble would have a greater pressure, but how would the "curved nature of the bubble" contribute to it?

The larger pressure on the inside arises from the surface tension and curvature of the bubble film. The surface tension tends to cause the surface area to contract and this, coupled with the shape of the bubble, results in an increase in pressure inside it.

Originally Posted by Old Fool

coupled with the shape of the bubble

How?

Originally Posted by Mole

Originally Posted by Old Fool

coupled with the shape of the bubble

How?

Pressure is defined as newtons per square centimeter. (Or in the USA it would be "pounds per square inch" or PSI) Greater pressure doesn't necessarily mean greater force. It just means a more favorable ratio between force and surface area.

There's more surface area on the outside of a bubble than there is on the inside, so if the forces are balanced (just as much total force pushing outward as there is pushing inward), that means more force per square centimeter on the inside. So, greater pressure. (It's all in the definitions.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure

Thanks, didn't think of that.