Tag Archives: Learning Outdoors

P5/6 Red Nose Day Lava Lamps

Science week experiments –

Red Nose Day Lava Lamps 

We gathered together our resources and disussed what we thought might happen when we mixed oil and water togther. We then followed the experiment to create our own lava lamps.

How it Works:

The oil floats on top of the water because it is less dense or lighter than water. The food coloring has the same density as the water so it sink through the oil and mixes with the water. When you add the tablet it sinks to the bottom then starts to dissolve. As it dissolves it makes gas, carbon dioxide. Gas or air, is lighter than water so it floats to the top. The air bubbles bring some colored water with them to the top. When the air comes out of the colored water blob, the water gets heavy again and sinks. It does this over and over again until the tablet is completely dissolved.