How to Make Geometric Bubble Frames Using Cotton Swabs

Bubble frames are not for blowing bubbles. They are simply for demonstrating the fascinating geometry made by thin films of soapy solution stretched over various shapes. They demonstrate principles of math and physics as well as being beautiful and intriguing.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton swabs
• Rubber cement
• Fast-drying glue of any type
• Water and dish detergent, or purchased bubble solution
• Glycerin (optional)
• Bowl that is deeper than the size of your largest bubble frame
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Coat the ends of the cotton swabs with rubber cement.

2. 

   Lay the wet cotton swabs across pencils or straws so the ends can dry without touching anything.

3. 

   Press the ends of the swabs together to make simple geometric shapes such a cube, a square pyramid, a triangular pyramid, a tetrahedron, an octahedron or a triangular prism.

4. Use cotton swabs to make "handles" for the shapes. Put a little quick-drying glue on the end of a swab, then press it onto the corner of a shape. Make sure the glue bond is strong enough so that you can lift and hold the shape by its handle.

5. Make a soap solution by using one quart water and 10 ounces of dish detergent. If you have glycerin, add 4 tablespoons. Glycerin helps the bubbles to last longer. If you have purchased bubble solution, this step is not necessary.

6. Put the soap solution into a container that is deeper than your largest bubble frame.

7. Holding the shapes by their handles, dip the bubble frames, one at a time, into the soapy solution. When they come up from the solution, you should see thin "walls" inside the frames. When these thin walls disintegrate or pop, simply dip them in again.