NEET 2026
- Exam
- NEET
- Year
- 2026
- Subject
- Physics
- Chapter
- Chapter
NEET 2026 · Physics · Chapter
Two soap bubbles of unequal radii are connected by a narrow hollow...
Two soap bubbles of unequal radii are connected by a narrow hollow tube. Which of the following correctly describes the flow of air between them?
Options
- AAir flows from the smaller bubble to the larger bubble.
- BAir flows from the larger bubble to the smaller bubble.
- CAir does not flow as the system is already in pressure equilibrium.
- DAir flows from the larger to the smaller bubble until their sizes become equal.
Correct answer
A. Air flows from the smaller bubble to the larger bubble.
Step-by-step solution
The excess pressure inside a soap bubble of radius is given by , where is the surface tension.
Let the radius of the smaller bubble be and the larger bubble be , with .
The pressure inside the smaller bubble is and inside the larger bubble is .
Since , we have , which implies .
Air always flows from a region of higher pressure to a region of lower pressure. Therefore, air will flow from the smaller bubble to the larger bubble.
Answer: Air flows from the smaller bubble to the larger bubble.
Let the radius of the smaller bubble be and the larger bubble be , with .
The pressure inside the smaller bubble is and inside the larger bubble is .
Since , we have , which implies .
Air always flows from a region of higher pressure to a region of lower pressure. Therefore, air will flow from the smaller bubble to the larger bubble.
Answer: Air flows from the smaller bubble to the larger bubble.