Two soap bubbles of radii $r_1$ and $r_2$ in vacuum coalesce under isothermal conditions. The resulting…

Two soap bubbles of radii $r_1$ and $r_2$ in vacuum coalesce under isothermal conditions. The resulting bubble has a radius equal to
  1. $\sqrt{r_1^2+r_2^2}$
  2. $\frac{r_1+r_2}{2}$
  3. $r_1+r_2$
  4. $\frac{r_1 r_2}{r_1+r_2}$

Solution

In Iso-thermal process: $p V=\mathrm{C}$. The pressure inside bubble is: $p \propto 1 / r$ and volume is: $V \propto r^3$. $\therefore p V \propto r^2$ And $n=\frac{p V}{R T}$, therefore number of moles of gas inside the bubble is proportional to the square of its radius $\therefore n \propto r^2$ On combining bubbles, the total number of moles is conserved: Therefore, $n_1+n_1=N$ $\therefore r_1^2+r_2^2=R^2$ The above result can also be obtained by total surface energy conservation: $2 \times\left(4 \pi R^2\right) \sigma=2 \times\left(4 \pi r_1^2\right) \sigma+2 \times\left(4 \pi r_2^2\right) \sigma$ or $R=\sqrt{r_1^2+r_2^2}$

Asked in: MHT CET 2022 (06 Aug Shift 1)

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