Lava Lamps

Lava lamps are one of the most mesmerizing objects ever.

The lava-like liquid slowly flowing through colored wax is fascinating to watch, and also very relaxing. Some people even find it hypnotic.

But what’s the science behind it?

The lamp works because of density: liquids with high and low densities (like water and oil) can’t mix no matter how hard you try. When you turn the lava lamp on, heat from the lightbulb warms up the wax until it becomes less dense than room-temperature air, so the wax starts to rise. As it gets further away from the bulb and cools down again, it becomes more dense than air and sinks back down. This continues on for hours, although, you should never leave it on for more than 10 hours or it could overheat.

The lamp’s container is made from a heat-resistant material so it doesn’t melt under the lamp’s heat. That’s good because they can get pretty hot, so be careful not to touch while it’s running or it could burn you.

Potential Lava Lamp Issues

As much fun as lava lamps are, unfortunately, they can also be finicky. You may find times when you feel like they’re not working correctly and aren’t sure what to do. The following articles were assembled to help put your mind at ease. They go over some of the more common issues you might face with lava lamps and provide you with guidance on steps you can take to try and mitigate the issues and/or fix them.