Curated OER
DIY Lava Lamp
Students examine lava lamps and what causes them to work. In this density instructional activity students make a lava lamp and write the scientific explanation of what happens.
Curated OER
Thermo and Fluid Dynamics of a Homemade "Lava Lamp"
Learners construct their own lava lamp using simple substances. In this physics lesson, students explain how difference in density causes convection. They solve for forces and buoyancy using mathematical equations.
Cornell University
Density
Certain things just do not mix, including liquids of varying densities. Learners collect data to determine the densities of several liquids. They then use the density information to predict the type of liquid.
Curated OER
Immiscible Liquids and Density
Students will make a lava lamp. In this density instructional activity, students will combine water and oil and make observations, then add salt to the oil and observe the oil sink, then float again when the salt dissolves in the water.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Discovering Density Through Lava Lamps
Students first predict, then mix several liquids and then add salt to the mix, simulating a lava lamp.
Science Fun for Everyone
Science Fun: Lava Lamp
Watch Scientist Joe as he makes the lava lamp experiment.