Bubbles can meet only at angles of (for three bubbles)
and
(for four bubbles), where
is the supplementary angle of the tetrahedral dihedral angle. This was proved by Jean Taylor using
measure theory to study area
minimization. The double bubble is area
minimizing, but it is not known if the triple bubble is
also area minimizing. It is also unknown if empty chambers
trapped inside can minimize area for
bubbles.
Plateau's Laws
See also
Bubble, Calculus of Variations, Double Bubble, Minimal Surface, Plateau's ProblemExplore with Wolfram|Alpha
References
Morgan, F. "Mathematicians, including Undergraduates, Look at Soap Bubbles." Amer. Math. Monthly 101, 343-351, 1994.Taylor, J. E. "The Structure of Singularities in Soap-Bubble-Like and Soap-Film-Like Minimal Surfaces." Ann. Math. 103, 489-539, 1976.Referenced on Wolfram|Alpha
Plateau's LawsCite this as:
Weisstein, Eric W. "Plateau's Laws." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/PlateausLaws.html