Most people enjoy the simple pleasure of creating bubbles using soap and water or a handy bubble gun, but have you ever wondered why these bubbles come out in such a uniform, spherical form? The answer delves into the fascinating realm of physics and the special behaviors of liquids.
Soap bubbles are formed when air molecules become trapped inside a thin layer of soapy water, giving them a shimmering appearance. As a liquid, the soapy film takes up the smallest possible surface area—water molecules naturally do this to achieve the most stable state. And guess what shape has the least surface area for a given volume? A sphere! When the water molecules in the film stick together trying to minimize the surface area, a round shape is formed.
大多數人都享受著用肥皂和水或方便的泡泡槍製造泡泡的簡單樂趣，但你是否曾想過為什麼這些泡泡會呈現出如此一致的球狀呢？這個答案探究了物理學的迷人領域和液體的特殊行為。
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當空氣分子被困在薄薄的肥皂水層中，就形成了肥皂泡，使它們呈現出閃爍的外觀。作為液體，這層肥皂薄膜會盡可能地占據最小的表面積 ―― 水分子自然就會這樣做以達到最穩定的狀態。猜猜在給定體積下，什麼形狀的表面積最小？是球形！當薄膜中的水分子聚集在一起試圖最小化表面積時，就形成了圓形。
Words in use
1. handy a. 便利的，便於使用的
Photos: AdobeStock I 照片：AdobeStock
The flashlight on your key chain is quite handy.
你鑰匙圈上的手電筒還挺方便好用的。
2. spherical a. 球形∕體的
Photos: AdobeStock I 照片：AdobeStock
sphere n. 球體
Some bacteria are spherical in shape.
有些細菌呈球狀。
The crystal ball is a perfect sphere.
這顆水晶球是完美的球體。
3. realm n. （知識、興趣的）範圍
Henry is an expert in the realm of gardening.
在園藝的領域中，亨利是個專家。
Practical Phrases
1. delve into... 探索∕探究……
delve vi. 探索，探究
Psychologists delved into the man’s past to consider why he became a murderer.
心理學家探究那個人的過去，來探討他為何成了一名凶手。
2. take up... 占去……（空間、時間）
This couch takes up far too much space in the living room.
這張沙發占去客廳太多空間了。
3. hinge on... 依……而定
hinge vi. 取決於
The outcome hinges on your input.
結果如何要依你投注的心力而定。
To be continued tomorrow（明日待續）
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