Lititz Library Hosts Educational Delight
Bubbles and fireworks generally do not have much in common. However, Jeff Boyer's Big Bubble Bonanza offers a grand finale that sends clouds of bubbles into the air to shimmer like fireworks. During a performance at the Lititz Public Library on July 14, Boyer grabbed two enormous bubble wands and began to turn in circles holding his arms out pinwheel style, causing children who had been invited closer to the stage to erupt with cheers.
Boyer's presentation, which was both educational and entertaining, was part of the library's summer programming schedule. Families that had registered to attend brought their chairs and blankets and spread out on the vast lawn behind the library at 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz.
Boyer began the show by educating the gathering about bubbles. "Is there anyone who can tell me what a bubble is?" asked Boyer, who went on to explain that the ephemeral creations are literally air surrounded by a wall of water. "Every bubble has three layers," said Boyer. "It has two layers of bubble solution and in between those layers is a layer of water and water has something called surface tension." Boyer noted that surface tension holds a bubble together and pulls it into a spherical shape.
"You can see every color of the rainbow on the surface of the bubble," said Boyer, noting that white light is made up of all the colors of the spectrum and that the surface of the bubble divides the light into individual colors based on the thickness of that area of the bubble. "Every place you see yellow it's the same thickness," said Boyer, who also demonstrated that because water holds a bubble together, touching a bubble with something wet will not pop it. "Let's see if I can touch a bubble without making it pop," he said, proceeding to touch a bubble with his tongue. "Do not try this at home; it tastes terrible," said Boyer, who noted that the bubble did not pop because his tongue is covered with saliva, which is mostly water.
A large part of the presentation involved Boyer making different shapes and sizes of bubbles using a variety of objects he had brought along. Among these were a rubber band, a headband, string, Mardi Gras beads, and a pair of giant scissors. Using a special machine, he also created smoke bubbles, explaining that bubbles can be created from any type of gas surrounded by water.
Toward the end of the show, Boyer endeavored to blow enormous bubbles, including doughnut bubbles, so named for their resemblance to the shape of the tasty treat, and bubbles that he called "Chinese Dragon" bubbles because they are large, long, and colorful.
More information about Lititz Library programs may be found at https://lititzlibrary.org. Those wishing to learn about Boyer's shows may visit https://jeffboyer.com.
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