Obtain an expression for the difference in pressure inside a saop bubble floating in air.
Asked by seeni2005
| 19th Nov, 2021,
12:47: PM
Expert Answer:
Suppose a spherical bubble of radius r, floating in air, is in equilibrium as shown in figure.
If its radius increase by Δr, then extra surface energy is
[4π(r + Δr) 2- 4πr2] T = 8πr Δr T ...........................(1)
Where T is surface tension. If the bubble is in equilibrium this energy cost is balanced by the energy gain due to
expansion under the pressure difference (Pi – Po) between the inside of the bubble and the outside.
The work done is
W = (Pi – Po) 4πr2Δr ...........................(2)
By equating the surface energy given by eqn.(1) and workdone as in eqn.(2) , we get
(Pi – Po) = (2 T ) / r
In general, for a liquid-gas interface, the convex side has a higher pressure than the
concave side. In the case of air bubble floating in air , we have two liquid-air interfaces , one inside the bubble and
another in outside of bubble .
(Pi – Po) = (4 T ) / r
Hence we get , Pi = Po + [ (4T) / r ]
Suppose a spherical bubble of radius r, floating in air, is in equilibrium as shown in figure.
If its radius increase by Δr, then extra surface energy is

[4π(r + Δr) 2- 4πr2] T = 8πr Δr T ...........................(1)
Where T is surface tension. If the bubble is in equilibrium this energy cost is balanced by the energy gain due to
expansion under the pressure difference (Pi – Po) between the inside of the bubble and the outside.
The work done is
W = (Pi – Po) 4πr2Δr ...........................(2)
By equating the surface energy given by eqn.(1) and workdone as in eqn.(2) , we get
(Pi – Po) = (2 T ) / r
In general, for a liquid-gas interface, the convex side has a higher pressure than the
concave side. In the case of air bubble floating in air , we have two liquid-air interfaces , one inside the bubble and
another in outside of bubble .
(Pi – Po) = (4 T ) / r
Answered by Thiyagarajan K
| 19th Nov, 2021,
09:01: PM
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