31.2 How does a Lava Lamp work?
Description
This article is from the Chemistry FAQ, by Bruce Hamilton B.Hamilton@irl.cri.nz with numerous contributions by others.
31.2 How does a Lava Lamp work?
Contributed by: Jim Webb <jnw4347@email.unc.edu>
A container filled with clear or dyed liquid contains a non-water-soluble
substance (the "lava") that's just a little bit denser (heavier), and has
a greater thermal coefficient of expansion, than the liquid around it.
Thus, it settles to the bottom of the container. A heat source at the
bottom of the container warms the substance, making it expand and become
less dense than the liquid around it. Thus, it rises. As it moves away
from the heat source, it cools, contracts a bit, and becomes (once again)
heavier than the medium. Thus, it falls. Heavy, light, heavy, light.
Sounds like a Milan Kundera novel.
(Actually, to be more precise: dense, less dense, dense, less dense.)
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