A soap bubble is given negative charge, what will happen it the radius and why?
wouldn't each side repel the opposite side?
If a soap bubble is given a negative charge, it will experience an outward force that causes its radius to increase. This can be explained using the principle of electrostatics.
Soap bubbles are composed of a thin film of soapy water. The film contains water molecules that are capable of conducting electricity to some extent. When a negative charge is applied to the soap bubble, it induces a repulsive force between the negatively charged soap bubble and the negative charge.
To understand this, we need to consider the interaction between charges. The soap bubble, being negatively charged, repels negatively charged electrons and attracts positively charged ions (cations) in the air surrounding it. This attraction causes positive ions to gather on the surface of the soap bubble, creating a layer of positive charge.
Now, the negatively charged soap bubble and the positive ions on its surface experience a mutual repulsive force. This force acts in all directions, but is strongest at the curved surface of the soap bubble. The repulsive force exerted by the positive ions pushes against the surface, causing it to expand and, as a result, increasing the radius of the soap bubble.
In conclusion, when a soap bubble is given a negative charge, the repulsive force between the negative charge and the positive ions on the surface of the bubble causes the bubble to expand, resulting in an increase in its radius.