soap film
Iridescent liquid layer
A soap film is the thin membrane of soapy water that forms when a frame or loop is dipped in soap solution—the shimmering surface of a bubble or the sheet stretched across a bubble wand.
Soap films naturally minimize their surface area, making them useful in mathematics and physics for studying minimal surfaces: The soap film spanning the wire frame demonstrated the optimal shape.
Single thickness of material
- surfaceOutermost boundary layer
- interfaceShared connection point
- coatingApplied surface covering
- laminateBond thin layers together
bilayer · barrier · boundary · skin · sheet · stretch · flexible · permeable
Soapy froth
- blowMove air forcefully
- floatBuoyant object or vehicle
- popFizzy drink, regionally
- burstBreak apart suddenly
wand · sphere · drift · hover · orb · inflate · balloon · glisten
Refracted light arc
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- prismLight-splitting optical element
- shimmerTremulous, wavering light
- opalescentShowing milky iridescence
pearlescent · nacreous · sheen · swirl · colorful · kaleidoscopic · holographic · lustrous
Unwelcome involvement in affairs
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- opticsScience of illumination
- refractionWave bending between media
- diffractionWaves spreading past obstacles
monolayer · bilayer · surfactant · molecular · surface tension · capillary action · fluid dynamics · lamellae
Passing very quickly
- momentaryLasting very briefly
- transitoryBrief in duration
- short-livedLasting only briefly
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
delicate · impermanent · passing · brief · transient · vanishing · popping · bursting
Allowing light through
- see-throughAllowing vision through
- sheerAbsolute; also diaphanous
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
- diaphanousDelicately translucent
thin · clear · glassy · pellucid · visibility · lucid · gauzy
layer
Single thickness of material
laminate · bilayer · barrier · boundary · skin · sheet · stretch · flexible · permeable · enclosure
suds
Soapy froth
burst · wand · sphere · drift · hover · orb · inflate · balloon · glisten · play
rainbow
Refracted light arc
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- prismLight-splitting optical element
- shimmerTremulous, wavering light
opalescent · pearlescent · nacreous · sheen · swirl · colorful · kaleidoscopic · holographic · lustrous · glow
interference
Unwelcome involvement in affairs
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- opticsScience of illumination
- refractionWave bending between media
diffraction · monolayer · bilayer · surfactant · molecular · surface tension · capillary action · fluid dynamics · lamellae · thickness
fleeting
Passing very quickly
- momentaryLasting very briefly
- transitoryBrief in duration
- short-livedLasting only briefly
fragile · delicate · impermanent · passing · brief · transient · vanishing · popping · bursting · unstable
transparent
Allowing light through
- see-throughAllowing vision through
- sheerAbsolute; also diaphanous
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
diaphanous · thin · clear · glassy · pellucid · visibility · lucid · gauzy
- residueresidue, buildup, scum, grime, deposits
- translucentfrosted glass, rice paper, wax paper, tracing paper, sheer fabric
- curvatureGaussian curvature, spinal curvature, arc, bend, camber
- variational calculusnecessary conditions, boundary conditions, geodesic, geodesics, catenary