Kent Fukuzura, Making Science Simple
Nothing says “science” quite like having the right lamps and other peripherals around your work area. Here’s a fun and easy project that will brighten up your desk and provide hours of enjoyment when relaxing from stressful experiments.
What is a lava lamp?
Traditional lava lamps contain liquids of different densities lit from below. The heat from the light provides the energy needed for the the liquids to move and change shapes. For our project we will experiment with different materials, but keep the basic concept the same.
What you’ll need:
You’ll need a clear glass container of some sort–perhaps a large jar, or, if you’re really ambitious, a fish tank. You’ll also need a light that will also function as a heat source. No flourescent bulbs here! A heat lamp could be interesting, or perhaps you could borrow father’s old ex-military spot-light.
Next, start choosing the ingredients to put in the lamp container. An easy one would be egg-whites (uncooked) in olive oil with a bit red or blue dye, but don’t stop there! How about mercury in vinegar, or liquid chocolate in canola oil? By adjusting the temperature emitted by the lamp with a series of baffles you can control the speed at which the different elements rise and fall.
Nothing stops you from adding other things too. How about a tropical aquarium with globs of inert liquid plastic specially formulated to soften in 75-degree-fahrenheit water? My personal favourite is to add chunks of spent cesium for an eerie nuclear-blue mobile. Very space-like.
Here is where you can apply all the knowledge about material density differences you’ve learned. Spend a bit of time experimenting and you’ll be sure to be rewarded with unique effects to wow and astound your friends.
Related posts:
