Researchers Solve a Mathematical Problem by Soap Bubbles

Recently a research took place at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). Through the research, the scientists are creating a record by solving the mathematic problems with the help of delicate soap bubbles. Before this, no one had imagined soap bubble as a solution to the Kirchhoff-Plateau problem. Soap bubbles, light-reflecting films that typically last just a few seconds before bursting, are often used for children's enjoyment and artistic performances. However, the scientists have stated that soap bubbles are physical examples of the rich mathematical problem of minimal surfaces. The bubbles assume the shape of the least surface area possible, containing a given volume, added the researchers.

The team has included Dr. Giusteri, Eliot Fried, who heads OIST's Mathematical Soft Matter Unit, and Dr. Luca Lussardi from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Italy. The question answered by the team is a variant of the "Plateau problem: Kirchhoff,"

‘Kirchhoff’ is a centuries-old mathematical problem that was named after 19th-century Belgian physicist, Joseph Plateau. The team of scientists added that their solution of the Kirchhoff-Plateau problem brings beautiful mathematical results close to what happens in the physical world.

Content: www.sciencedaily.com