Oscar De La Huerte answered
Lava lamps (which are also known as liquid motion lamps) work on a very basic principle.
They work by taking two liquids that have the following properties:
When you turn a lava lamp on, a bulb at the bottom of the canister lights up. This heats up the liquid at the bottom which expands and starts rising to the top of the container.
As it rises, the liquid cools down and starts falling to the bottom and the cycle repeats itself over and over again. The closeness in density of the substances is important for them to interact in this way.
They work by taking two liquids that have the following properties:
- They are both insoluble in each other
- They both have similar density
The insolubility of the two liquids is very important. It is the reason you see two very distinct shapes and colours rather than a gradual blend.
Oil and water are two household items that are insoluble. If you've ever poured oil into water, you'll notice how the two liquids remain separate instead of mixing into each other. Lava lamps work in much the same way.
What makes a lava lamp work?
Oil and water are two household items that are insoluble. If you've ever poured oil into water, you'll notice how the two liquids remain separate instead of mixing into each other. Lava lamps work in much the same way.
What makes a lava lamp work?
When you turn a lava lamp on, a bulb at the bottom of the canister lights up. This heats up the liquid at the bottom which expands and starts rising to the top of the container.
As it rises, the liquid cools down and starts falling to the bottom and the cycle repeats itself over and over again. The closeness in density of the substances is important for them to interact in this way.
