Sitting outside, I watched as my siblings played with bubble guns. Observing the round shapes produced from the wands inside the gun, I began to wonder how such a perfect spherical shape is achieved every time. As the bubbles collided, instead of remaining spherical, they formed a hexagonal pattern. This is because bubbles always try to reduce surface area. This also relates to Plateau’s problem. Belgian mathematician and physicist, Joseph Plateau, is recognised for his investigations with soap films. He concluded that bubbles will always meet in 3’s at 120° angles. Looking at the photograph, it is clear that the bubbles merge forming obtuse angles, however, this leaves me with the question - why 120°?
