Equipment:

• four frames of various shapes - shelf 6D
• soap solution - shelf 6D

Theory: A soap film will form the shape with the minimum surface area, to minimize the energy associated with surface tension.

Description: The frames are in the shape of a cube, a tetrahedron, an octahedron, and a triangular prism. To form the minimal surface, hold each shape by its handle so it is fully immersed in the soap solution. Withdraw the shape so that one corner emerges first, and another corner emerges last.

Setup time: 10 minutes

References: (available in the demo room)

• Guide to the Kubic Bubble kit.
• Sutton, "Demonstration Experiments in Physics", M-236, page 98.