A lava lamp contains a mixture of colored paraffin wax and another compound that

Question

A lava lamp contains a mixture of colored paraffin wax and another compound that makes the solid was just a bit denser than the clear liquid (usually mineral oil or water) in the lamp. The heat is supplied by a light bulb below the sealed glass bottle of the lamp. There is a wire heating coil in the bottom of the sealed bottle to help transfer heat energy into the wax. The top and sides of the sealed glass bottle are cooler than its heated base.

1. Observe and describe the motions of the colored wax that occur over one full minute of time, starting with wax at thebottom of the lamp and its path through the lamp.

2. What causes the wax to move from the base of the lamp to the top of the lap? (be specific and complete as you can)

Explanation / Answer

1. Since the transfer of heat is very slow from the light bulb to the colored paraffin wax and hence during the starting seconds the heat don't do nothing the after 3-4 seconds the heat starts heating the colored paraffin wax making it lighter than the oil and due to this difference in densities of the two fluid (colored paraffin wax when melts also behave as a fluid) will occur and the lighter fluid i.e. the colored paraffin wax will move upwards, as this happens it simultaneously transfer its heats to the oil thus becoming cooler and denser and it reaches the top it becomes heavy enough to come down and it comes to the bottom again the heat of the bulb will make it lighter and this process continues till the power is switched on.

2. The convection current causes due to the heat provided by light bulb and was developed in the colored paraffin wax which causes the difference in the densities of the two fluid is the reason why the wax moves from the base of the lamp to the top of the lamp.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.