| Since
their creation lava lamps have hypnotized and
perplexed us. So simple, yet so complex. But what
is the physics controlling the behavior of such
beautiful objects? In this website, that question
will be answered, the intricate dance of fluids
and thermodynamics at work in these lamps examined
to the fullest. I hope the reader will walk away
with a better understanding of why lava lamps
behave this way and a sparked curiosity for how
the world around us works. |
History
| Lava lamps date back to
1963 when they were created by Edward
Craven-Walker, a British inventor who was formally
a WWII pilot. He thought of the idea when he saw a
weird looking egg timer that was all bubbly. The
lamps quickly caught on with the counterculture
movement because of their trippy psychedelic
behavior. Since then, they have become an icon of
that era and are still commonly found all over the
globe. |
 A
hippie staring at a lava lamp, a common activity
of the time-http://www.mortaljourney.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ManHoldingLavaLamp.png-
|
