Fire Bubbles! Such an intriguing title
for an experiment isn't it?
This experiment requires methane which
is hard to come by and we were trying for so long to figure out what we could do.
Little did I know that we didn't have to worry about it.
My family and I were going to Denver,
Colorado to see my sister's graduation. My brilliant mom suggested that we would
contact Steve Spangler to see if he would let us visit him while we were there.
He graciously agreed! We arrived and he showed my family and me the building and we met his wonderful team. What I didn't know was the little secret Steve and
my mom were hiding. If you haven't guessed it already. He surprised me by
helping me finish this amazing science adventure, we did "Fire
Bubbles".
Along with methane we needed a beach ball
with tubing connected to the nozzle of the ball. Some water, soap, and a lighter
as well.
Steve filled the beach ball with
methane.
With the ball filled with the flammable
gas, Steve stuck the open end of the tube into a soap and water solution. Then
by squeezing the ball, the methane creates bubbles because of the soap in the
water. Making perfect little pockets of combustion!
After making a bubbly tower, I dipped my
hands in water making sure every part of them was covered. Then I scooped up a
handful of bubbles.
Now comes the BEST PART! Steve lit them
up. LIGHT IT ON FIRE!!!
MWAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Sorry I had to do an evil laugh. I mean,
come on! Wouldn't you?
And guess what? My hands were perfectly
fine! In fact it was so great that we had to do it two or three more times (Of
course!).
COLUMN OF FIRE!
I think my evil scientist side just
peeked out.
Amazing, right?
But how did I just hold burning bubbles
and NOT get harmed?.... not even just a bit?
The secret, my curious friend, was the
dipping of my hands in the water. The water is evaporating while the methane is
burning keeping your hands off the BBQ menu.
I'm surprised we didn't set off the fire
alarms!
As I have said before.... DO NOT TRY
THIS AT HOME. I had expert help. Help from the best!
Steve and I experimented and messed
around with some other activities throughout the afternoon. This was amazing--so
amazing the WOW-rating for this experiment is a 10! A solid "Knock your socks
off" and a blog first! Not only because this experiment is like nothing I have
ever done before but also my science hero, my inspiration for this blog,
supported me and helped me wrap it up in a special way.
Thank you, Steve!
