Alkhafaji 1
Bashaer Alkhafaji
NSCI 232
June 14th, 2011
How Does Energy Flow Through The Lava Lamp?
Before taking this class, I was not familiar with how lava lamps work. However, during the class session I observed the hard wax in the lava lamp heat up and move into a circular motion. As a result, I was able to use what I know about energy and come up with some ideas as to how energy flows through the lava lamp.
1.
Electricity from the outlet passes through the electric cord giving off energy into the light bulb of the lava lamp. The energy of the light bulb is seen as light and it gives off heat.
2.
The heat energy from the light bulb transfers to the bottom of the glass, coil, and wax.
3.
While the wax is being heated up, the energy changes to mechanical energy due to the increase in motion of the atoms in the wax. As a result, the wax begins to melt.
4.
The quicker the atoms in the wax move, the more heat is being produced, making the wax rise to the top of the lava lamp. As each wax piece rises to the top of the lava lamp, the atoms begin to slow down because of its distance away from the heat source (light bulb), making the wax denser.
5.
The wax transfers heat onto the oil and glass. The glass gives heat off to the atmosphere.
6.
Due to cooling of the atoms, they begin to slow down steadily making the wax harden again. In turn, the wax begins to sink to the heat source (light bulb).
7.
This process repeats again.

Alkhafaji 2
My prior knowledge of how energy flows through the lava lamp was not fully correct because I was not aware of the three methods of heat transfer. However, after the activity, professor’s explanation, handout, and watching the science video about heat, I was able to gain more knowledge of how these processes work. After the instruction, I was able to rewrite the process of how energy flows through lava lamp using the three types of energy transfer.
1.
Electricity from the outlet passes through the electric cord giving off energy to the light bulb of the lava lamp. The energy of the light bulb is seen as light and it gives off heat energy.
2.
The heat energy from the light bulb transfers to the glass, coil, and wax. This transfer of heat energy is known as radiation. It occurs when a heat supply makes contact with another object indirectly. In this instance, the light bulb, which is the heat source transfers it’s heat energy to the glass, coil, and wax.
3.
Transfer of heat energy always moves from warmer objects to cooler objects. The coil, which is the warmer object, makes direct contact with the glass because it transfers heat to it. The glass becomes warmer and conducts its heat energy onto the oil and the wax.
Conduction occurs when the warmer heat object is in direct contact with cooler heat object.
4.
While the wax is being heated up, the energy changes to mechanical energy due to the increase in motion of the atoms in the wax. The quick movements of the atoms in the wax cause more heat to be produced. As a result, the wax begins to melt and stretches out. It also reduces in its density making the wax rise to the top of the lava lamp where it is cooler. The loss of thermal energy (see step five for explanation) causes the molecules

Alkhafaji 3 of the wax to slow down. Then, the wax cools and hardens. In turn, it sinks to the heat source (light bulb) as its density increases. This process is called convection. Convection occurs when a warmer fluid such as gas or liquid moves the warmth along with it.
5.
The heat that was carried up with the wax conducts (conduction) heat energy to the glass.
The glass becomes warm and radiates its warmth off into the atmosphere.
6.
These processes repeat until the electrical cord is plugged from the outlet.
When we studied heat transfer there were many aspects of my knowledge that changed. For instance, I did not know that there were three types of energy transfers.
Also, it is interesting to me how all three transfers of energy take place in the lava lamp. I would have never guessed that take if I did not do this activity. In addition, I would not have understood these processes well if I did not collaborate work with my group about how energy flows through the lava lamp. Together, we observed the parts of the lava lamp and tried to figure out where the energy came from, where it was going, and how it got there. By doing this, we were able to connect how these methods work in the lava lamp and correct our understandings after the instruction.
There were many useful resources that led to gaining knowledge of this topic. I was able to physically see how each energy heat transfer worked and as a visual learner this helped better my understanding of this lesson. In addition, the teacher briefly explained these processes, and showed us a science video that explained them more clearly and in depth. Furthermore, the hand out about the three methods of heat transfer

Alkhafaji 4 helped to reinforce what I learned in class. The concepts that I understood very well are radiation, conduction, and convection. I believe I have learned the concept well enough that as a future teacher I can teach it to my students.