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What is the science behind a lava lamp?
A lava lamp is a pretty interesting thing, when it is cool, it looks like it's made of candle wax, because it is. Wax is strange, because when it is hot, it rises, but when it is cool, it sinks, so the bulb at the bottom heats the wax, and it floats to the top, but at the top, when it starts to cool down, it sinks. cool huh?
A certain type of lamp contains colored liquids these liquids form globs that break off and rise to the top of the liquid the glob rises due to what?
It is called a "lava lamp" and the effect is caused by the heat of the bulb in the lamp causing one of the liquids to warm up and become less dense than the other (it is denser in the cold state). The less dense glob then rises up and breaks off and travels to the top of the lamp where it cools then sinks once again to the bottom of the lamp.
What happens to the wax as it rises to the top of a lava lamp?
It begins to get a little cooler, shrinks a little making it denser. Eventually it will start to descend where it will get hotter again.
Why does Lava in a lava lamp rises and sinks?
The 'lava' in a Lava Lamp is actually a chemically treated wax. The clear (sometimes colored) liquid is water. When the lamp is turned on the metal coil inside the glass chamber is heated by the light bulb. The reason it sinks and rises is because when the molecules inside the wax get heated up and speed up and expand. This causes them to become less dense than the water causing them to rise. When they are at the top the molecules slowly get colder and they slow down which makes them more dense than the water, so the wax sinks.
How does the lava lamps bubbles form?
The bubbles in a lava lamp form as a result of convection current. Which is the movement of fluids caused by density differences. As the bubbles at the bottom heats up, its density decreases and therefore becomes buoyant and floats to the top. However as it gets to the top, it loses its energy because it's getting further away from the heat source at the bottom. Therefore its density increases and falls down, where it heats up and floats again. This cycle is continuous... as long as you keep the lamp switch on. or my answer is this....... The lava effect is due to the interaction between the fluids used in the lamp. These fluids are selected on the basis of their density so one tends to barely float in the other. In addition, they are chosen based on their coefficient of expansion, so as they are heated one tends to rise or sink faster than the other. When heat from the light bulb warms the heavier liquid sitting on the bottom, it gets hotter and, due to its lower density, rises to the surface. By the time the "lava" reaches the top of the lamp, it begins to cool, becomes denser, and sinks to the bottom. As the lava sinks, it gets closer to the light bulb, heats up again, and the process is repeated over and over. Therefore, the key to successful lava lamp design is the selection of appropriate immiscible fluids. The exact composition used in lava lamps is a proprietary secret, but in general terms, one fluid is water based and the other is oil based. The aqueous phase may be water mixed with alcohol or other water-soluble solvents. The second fluid must meet a number of design criteria: it must be insoluble in water, heavier and more viscous, non-reactive and non-flammable, and reasonably priced. It must also be non poisonous, unchlorinated, not emulsifiable in water, and must have a greater coefficient of expansion than water. While fluid selection does not change from lamp to lamp, there are design changes to be considered because lamps are available in different colors, sizes, and styles. The original Century model, which is still manufactured today, was the most popular model during the 1960s and 1970s. Its gold base is perforated with tiny holes which simulate starlight and its 52 oz (1.46 kg) globe is filled with red or white lava and yellow or blue liquid. A number of interesting variations on the Century have been manufactured in past years, although not all of them are still made today. For example, the Enchantress Planter Lava Lite lamp came equipped with plastic foliage. The Continental Lava Lite lamp which, was the only cordless, non-electric model, featured a candle to warm the lava. The Consort Lava Lite lamp, according to the company's 1970s catalog, was designed with a more masculine look "perfect for the study or den, so right for the executive suite." There was also the Mediterranean Lava Lite lamp, which was decorated with black wrought iron. In addition, Haggerty offers so-called giant lamps, which range in size up to 27 in (68.6 cm) tall.
Where is the lamp on page 26 27 in you spy mystery?
It is just to the left of the jewlery box sitting on top of the nail polish, it is an old fashioned oil lamp
Why is the lava at the top of lamp?
Because the lava is heated and it floats to the top. It is heated and the lava gets less dense than the water so again it floats to the top.
Will water react with oil?
Water and oil will separate if the two are combined. The water will be at the bottom while the oil site on top. Just like in a lava lamp some colors float while others sink.
Can you operate a lava lamp that has an integrated metal stand covered with felt on bottom?
Yes, you can operate the lava lamp. The felt is only there to prevent the base from scratching your table top, or which ever furniture the lamp is stood on..
What to do when all the goo goes to the top of a lava lamp?
Turn the lamp off. As it cools, the wax (goo) becomes more dense and will fall to the bottom.
Can you describe the density changes between the two substances that a lava lamp contains?
The light at the bottom heats up the oil, therefore expanding it and making it less dense. The less dense oil then floats to the top, where the cooler, more dense, oil floats to the bottom.
How do you remove and place back on an oil lamp top that has no threads?
The top seems to have a filler in it?????
What area is a lava lamp in biology chemistry physics or earth?
A lava lamp is a study in physics. The lamp functions on density and that density or mass as it is called, changes with the addition of heat to the container. When heat is applied the substance that floats changes to lighter mass and begins to rise. When it reaches the top where it is cooler, it gets dense and sinks.
What do you need to make a lava lamp cause a chemical reaction?
Switch it on i think, which would heat up the hardened wax at the bottom of the lamp and melt it so that it floats up to the top of the lamp in a process called convection, then when it reaces the cooler top of the lamp it will cool and sink to the bottom then repeat these steps again. But if you wanted a more exciting reaction you could put the lava lamp on a hot stove, but this is a very dangerous reation as it will probably explode violently, as proven in an episode of mythbusters.
How is the Earth's mantle different from a lava lamp?
Lava Lamp:requires an external electrical heat sourceman-madeconstructed of glass and metalparaffin inside moves quickly relative to magma in mantlecan be purchasedis transportablecomes in a variety of colorseasily observablerequired temperature of operation less than 200o FEarth's mantle:occurs naturallypowered by Earth's internal heatconsists largely of ultra-mafic rocktemperatures can reach 4000o Fcannot be purchased, observed directly, or transportedis rather large compared to lava lamp, comprising 83% of Earth's total volumemovement of rock is extremely slow compared to movement of paraffin in lava lamp
What is the science behind a lava lamp?
A lava lamp is a pretty interesting thing, when it is cool, it looks like it's made of candle wax, because it is. Wax is strange, because when it is hot, it rises, but when it is cool, it sinks, so the bulb at the bottom heats the wax, and it floats to the top, but at the top, when it starts to cool down, it sinks. cool huh?
How does convection works?
this is like warm, less dense air rises while cool more dense sinks. This is like the lava lamp the hot "lava" floats up to the top and and the cooler "lava" sinks down to the bottom and heats up and rises and the cooling stuff at the top is now sinking
