Information About Lava Lamps
Lava lamps came into popularity in the 1960s and 1970s and are often commonly associated with the hippie movement. Despite the retro perception, the Lava Lamp has been a steady seller throughout the decades and even made resurgence in popularity in the 1990s. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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In 1963, an Englishman invented what was then known as the Astro Lamp; two years later the rights were secured to manufacture the lamp in the United States. It was then renamed the Lava Lamp and manufactured by the Lava Lite Company. The Lava Lamp quickly became a décor staple, and was marketed as the perfect accessory in every home.
Types
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Throughout the decades there have been several styles of lava lamps; while most work in the same manner, the external design is what has altered most. Lava lamps can be broken down into three basic types: countertop, wall sconce and floor model. Shapes of the globe have also differed, from a triangular shape to a tall cylinder. Design changes to the base have included creating a flower ring for added decoration, novelty bases such as an Aladdin-style lamp and cartoon characters, and even a traditional-looking lantern.
HippieLight.com is a comprehensive resource on lava lamps, including photos of original lava lamps, and photos of original sales and marketing materials.
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Details
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The motion part of the lamp is made of two basic elements that cannot be blended or mixed. The first is a watery substance, which is the background color, and the second element is a waxy substance, the ooze or blob that floats and bobs into mesmerizing shapes. When the lamp is turned on, the waxy substance is heated up, becomes less dense and floats up to the top of the lamp.
At-Home Experiment
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Children can create a homemade lava lamp with five common household items:
• Glass jar
• Water
• Food coloring
• Vegetable oil
• Salt shaker with saltAdd about 3 inches of water to the glass jar, and add and mix food coloring until the desired color is achieved. Add 1/3 cup of oil to the water, and wait until the liquids settle. Shake the salt over the liquid for about five seconds. The oil and salt will combine together and form a glob that will sink to the bottom of the jar. When the salt dissolves in the water the glob will float to the top of the jar. Continue to add salt to the mixture to observe more floating globs.
Initially the oil will float on top of the water because it is less dense; keep in mind oil won't mix with water, which is why the liquids are layered. When salt, which is denser than water, is added to the liquid it drags the oil to the bottom, when the salt fully dissolves it cannot keep the oil down any longer and the oil blob will float back up to the top.
Considerations
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Although lava lamps emit a small amount of light, they are in fact much more ornamental than operational.
Lava lamps are easy to take care of, but it is important not to shake the globe while the blobs are warm. Too much shaking can result in a cloudy substance that may be irreversible.
Take care to keep the unit away from windows, as ultraviolet light can bleach the blob color, resulting in permanent discoloration.
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