Looking for a fun, easy science lesson to do at home? Look no further, with this post you will learn how to make a mini lava lamp as well as some of the science behind it. This experiment uses basic supplies that you should be able to find at home or a local store. If you don’t have a test tube, you could always use another jar with a lid. So grab the supplies from your kitchen (and bathroom) and start your fun lesson about density!
How to Make a Mini Lava Lamp
You will need:
- a test tube with a lid
- cooking oil (we used vegetable)
- fizzy tub tablets (these are usually found in the kid’s bath section with bubble bath and such)
- water
1. Fill your test tube halfway with oil.
2. Add a tub tint to the tube. We used Sesame Street tub tints from Walmart and they were huge, so we cut the tablet in half.
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3. Let the tub tint fall to the bottom of the test tube. This will be slow.
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4. Add water to your test tube, make sure to leave some room at the top.
5. Watch the fizzing and the bubbles.
6. When the fizzing stops, you can add the cap to your test tube to enjoy your lava lamp as long as you want!
The Science
Density- This experiment is a great lesson in density. It teaches that the water sinks to the bottom of the tube because it is denser than the oil. This a great lesson to teach that when something is denser, it doesn’t mean that it is heavier. It means that its molecules are more tightly packed.
Solubility – The tub tablets are not soluble in the oil, so they don’t react until you add the water. This also helps explain why the oil and water stay separate as Oil is water repelling and won’t mix with water.
how much water, and how much oil?
There isn’t a specific amount, you need to fill your container halfway with oil.