Make your own "Lava Lamp"

Hey there!  Did you find us at the ice cream social?  Were you one of the ones asking about our “lava lamp” and how to make your own.  Are you now curious and want to try this at home?

Well, you’re in luck!  Below is a list of ingredients along with instructions so you can make your own.

What you need:

Vegetable oil (use the cheap stuff, really!)    

Water with food coloring of your choice

Salt (again, use the cheap stuff!)

Vase or tall glass

What to do:

Fill the vessel about half full with water, now mix in your food coloring.  Pour the oil on top so the total volume is no more than ¾ of your vessel.  Gently pour a BIG handful of salt so it sort of rests on the oil.  Watch the water carefully.  See the oil get dragged down into the water and then rise again to the surface?  Pretty cool, huh.  Now do it again.  How much salt is optimum?  Is it best to add the salt quickly or slowly?  You can rinse this out and repeat as many times as you like!

We loved meeting you and hearing your science ideas.  Keep checking this space for things to do, places to go and cool new science discoveries.   Our science fair will be 5 April 2013—keep on asking questions and exploring the world around you!