Frozen Bubbles

It was again in single digits Fahrenheit when I woke this morning. But today without wind. So I decided to try this again (coincidently it was 7° F this morning as well).

Freeze bubbles that is.

First I had to blow a bubble, and then catch it so I could set it down without bursting. Not as easy as you may think.

Then you wait for the magic to occur (where for "magic" read "physics"). Look closely and you can see it starting to solidify.

Now it has sprung a leak. Being frozen it retains a bubble shape.

But it is too fragile to last.

And it collapses under its own weight.

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There are some interesting things going on with this one. Well, interesting to me anyway.

First, you can see ice crystals forming on the top and side of the bubble and perhaps some holes. Second you can see thin film interference colors on the top. And third there are some curious optical effects with the reflections of the bubble wand.

Bubbles are usually ephemeral things.

But frozen, it is for a while a fractured bubble.

Soon enough only fragments remain.

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These didn't freeze in the same fashion as the last time. Those had much more obvious ice crystals forming on the bubble surface. These just seemed to solidify without significant crystal formation. Curious.