When it s cool the lava is a little bit denser than the liquid surrounding it.
Making a lava lamp with salt.
Today people can recreate this retro home decoration by making a homemade version.
How does a lava lite work.
Oil is lighter or less dense than water so it rises to the surface.
In a real one however the densities of the liquids are much closer together than vegetable oil and water.
Finally i squirted in 2 tbsp of dijon mustard which quickly sunk the spices to the bottom causing the bubbles like the lava lamp.
To make a lava lamp with household ingredients start by pouring vegetable oil water and food coloring into a plastic bottle.
Then i added kosher salt 1 tap or so italian seasoning 1 tbsp crushed red pepper 1 2 tsp and 1 tsp garlic powder.
Next seal the bottle shake it up and place it on top of a strong flashlight like the flashlight on your phone.
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As it warms up the lava expands a little.
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The secret behind the lamp s lava is science.
Making a lava lamp is also a fun activity for parents and kids to do together.
A final quick and easy lava lamp experiment.
When the lava rests on the bottom of the lava lite the light bulb in the lamp warms it up.
This does give us one final simple lava lamp method.
Then add some salt to the bottle or an effervescent tablet so the mixture starts fizzing.
If you are still stuck for supplies and need a really simple way of making a lava lamp.
Here is an easy way.
With the apple cider vinegar it was a little like a gold colored lava lamp.
Real lava lamps use a polar and non polar liquid just like our homemade one did.
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The denser liquid sinks to the bottom but the lava lamp light heats it up until it expands and becomes less dense causing it to rise upward.
Salt is heavier or more dense than water and sinks to the bottom.
Like your oil and water the lava in a lava lite doesn t mix with the liquid that surrounds it.
Then the salt dissolves and the oil returns to the top.
Try this easy experiment at home find out how below.
Himalayan salt lamps are crystals carved from amber colored rock salt hollowed out to fit a lightbulb inside.
When you add the salt blobs of oil attach to the grains and sink.