HAVE you ever seen the looks on the faces of toddlers when they first catch a glimpse of bubbles swirling in the wind? How utterly excited they are!

Their eyes sparkle with fascination as they follow the trails of these magical bubbles of air, twirling a rainbow of colours up and up in the air.

Yes, indeed, bubbles capture the very essence of childlike wonder. The captivated young audience claps with glee at the sight as they watch the bubbles go higher and higher. Some bubbles soon pop but a majority of them rise high and disappear behind trees and walls.

How are these bubbles made? Just mix liquid soap and water, and voila, there you have it! Next, to make a bubble wand you need a bit of wire, pliable enough to make a good shape. If you are having difficulty in making all this, just ask mum or dad to help you.

Now, shake the container of soapy water, dip the bubble wand into the solution and then either blow at or simply swipe the wand through the air. It is best done out in the sunshine as then the sun shines through their iridescent swirls. Enchanting!

Exactly what is a soap bubble? A soap bubble is a very thin sheet of water sandwiched between two layers of soap molecules. The film of soapy water surrounds a bubble of air. Now these soap molecules have one end that repels water, and one that attracts it. Together, these molecules move to the inner and outer surfaces, thrusting their water-repelling ends out into the air and their ‘heads’ inwards.

Surface tension causes the bubble to be spherical in shape. Light is reflected from both the inner and outer surface of the soap bubble. White light is made up of different colours. So when light is reflected, the bubbles take on a coat of many colours — enough to send fascinated children scampering hither and thither, yelling and shrieking in delight!

Over the weekend when you visit a park or a recreational spot, keep an eye open for the vendors selling their ‘bubbles’ ware. Watch and see how they add a touch of fun and merriment, enjoyed by both young and old — these psychedelic bubbles of joy.