Physics question: since sand in an hourglass exerts more force when it’s flowing downward than it does at rest, will the rising and falling of the wax make the chandelier very slightly wobble? 🤔
That is super interesting about the hourglass. I never considered that, but it makes sense. The sand is transitioning from a higher energy state to a lower one within a gravitational field. Each grain gains momentum during the fall, then exerts that force on the structure when it hits the bottom.
The lava lamps don't start in a stored energy state. They add thermal energy that causes the convection, but the entire time there's a conservation of momentum within the lamps.
It's super cool idea, but I'm pretty sure the chandelier would be stable, not wobbly.
The wax itself moves constantly around the lamp and has mass. Since the frequency this occurs in and the mass within each blob that moves up or down is somewhat random, I would imagine there are times when more mass moves up than down in different parts of the chandelier.
I would expect that it would ever-so-slightly wobble because of that.
Conclusion: we have our opposing theories and an experimental design.
That wax is displacing water. Wax go up, displaced water go down. And they have very similar densities since the movement is so slow. So the net movement of mass is even smaller than what you'd assume.
There is still some movement, more importantly there is some rotational movement as water and wax swap places. So there is some gyroscopic effect exists, stronger than the linear forces.
So if that chain has too little friction (or if it was a string instead of chain) and the chandelier itself not so much mass that will absolutely dominate the lamps, then indeed some really chaotic and even otherworldly wobbling could be seen due to rotational momentum.
But I'm afraid it would be absorbed by the chandelier mass and the friction on the chain.
I guess it really depends on the mass difference between the other liquid and the wax. If they're almost the same, there shouldn't be much net force. If they're drastically different you might see some net external force produced. Since the blobs move slowly in the liquid, we have to expect the densities are at least comparable. I'd think the net movement of mass is too.
When the sand is falling, it's not exerting force. It only exerts force when it hits the bottom. There would probably be a reduction in overall weight when the sand starts falling for a split second, and a corresponding increase as the last few grains hit the bottom. But in the middle, the weight would be more or less constant, give or take random fluctuations.
very slightly, the weight difference is so miniscule I doubt it'd even look like it were wobbling, and due to other friction in the system may not even register at all.
real talk: can lava lamps generate electricity from solar power? seems possible bc it moves liquids from heat which maybe could turn a turbine? so then you just need to get the sun to heat the bottom of the lamp and put a turbine in the lamp?
I feel like it would be very heavy. Wouldn't want it hanging from a chain (although the weight underneath might actually stabilize it more than a rigid hanging?)
Could be one of those situations writes the intuition is all wrong, too
I will find a way to burn myself on it. Or one will fall off and splash hot wax globs on me and idk if its water or oil but the less viscous fluid will surely fuck me up too.
48 Comments
Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone · 48 pts · 147d
Physics question: since sand in an hourglass exerts more force when it’s flowing downward than it does at rest, will the rising and falling of the wax make the chandelier very slightly wobble? 🤔
Yondoza@sh.itjust.works · 29 pts · 147d
That is super interesting about the hourglass. I never considered that, but it makes sense. The sand is transitioning from a higher energy state to a lower one within a gravitational field. Each grain gains momentum during the fall, then exerts that force on the structure when it hits the bottom.
The lava lamps don't start in a stored energy state. They add thermal energy that causes the convection, but the entire time there's a conservation of momentum within the lamps.
It's super cool idea, but I'm pretty sure the chandelier would be stable, not wobbly.
Zer0_F0x@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 147d
The wax itself moves constantly around the lamp and has mass. Since the frequency this occurs in and the mass within each blob that moves up or down is somewhat random, I would imagine there are times when more mass moves up than down in different parts of the chandelier.
I would expect that it would ever-so-slightly wobble because of that.
Conclusion: we have our opposing theories and an experimental design.
We must test this, for science!
hayvan@piefed.world · 11 pts · 147d
That wax is displacing water. Wax go up, displaced water go down. And they have very similar densities since the movement is so slow. So the net movement of mass is even smaller than what you'd assume.
There is still some movement, more importantly there is some rotational movement as water and wax swap places. So there is some gyroscopic effect exists, stronger than the linear forces.
So if that chain has too little friction (or if it was a string instead of chain) and the chandelier itself not so much mass that will absolutely dominate the lamps, then indeed some really chaotic and even otherworldly wobbling could be seen due to rotational momentum.
But I'm afraid it would be absorbed by the chandelier mass and the friction on the chain.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 146d
Yeah they have to have extremely similar densities, such that hot wax floats and cool (but still molten) wax sinks.
SolarMonkey@slrpnk.net · 5 pts · 147d
It would have to be very slight indeed, since the wax needs to be close to neutrally buoyant in order to rise and fall with the heat currents.
Yondoza@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 146d
I guess it really depends on the mass difference between the other liquid and the wax. If they're almost the same, there shouldn't be much net force. If they're drastically different you might see some net external force produced. Since the blobs move slowly in the liquid, we have to expect the densities are at least comparable. I'd think the net movement of mass is too.
teslekova@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 147d
That only makes this idea better.
Grail@multiverse.soulism.net · 6 pts · 147d
When the sand is falling, it's not exerting force. It only exerts force when it hits the bottom. There would probably be a reduction in overall weight when the sand starts falling for a split second, and a corresponding increase as the last few grains hit the bottom. But in the middle, the weight would be more or less constant, give or take random fluctuations.
rumba@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 146d
Did you watch the action lab the other day too? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVzqEn_qyFM
Carrot@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 147d
very slightly, the weight difference is so miniscule I doubt it'd even look like it were wobbling, and due to other friction in the system may not even register at all.
unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 146d
I'm half way there, and embarrassed! You forgot, I am not cool
rabidhamster@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 26 pts · 147d
Judging by these comments: People do know that lava lamps don't have actual lava in them, right?
rangber@lemmy.zip · 21 pts · 147d
You never know
anton@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 147d
If you can see the blobs, it's not lava, if it glows red or white evenly it might be.
https://what-if.xkcd.com/122
unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 147d
Macroscopic water-bears
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 146d
Yeah but they do get pretty hot because they have to use incandescent bulbs in order to work. This is basically an ez bake radiator with cool blobs
A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 147d
That lamp cord is gonna burn up edit: wrong they only use like a 20w bulb apparently, carry on
hash@slrpnk.net · 8 pts · 147d
My first thought was the power usage as well.
lath@piefed.social · 8 pts · 146d
Better idea: like that, but with a ceiling fan instead.
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 146d
Add LSD to taste
fedikitty@piefed.social · 8 pts · 147d
[Chorus]
🎶 I'm gonna swing from the chandelieer
From the chandelieeeeer 🎶
ElcaineVolta@kbin.melroy.org · 7 pts · 147d
lavalabra!
sorrybookbroke@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 147d
Lavalampaleire
buddascrayon@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 147d
That thing would put out a fuck ton of heat.
AvocadoSandwich@eviltoast.org · 6 pts · 147d
Atmospheric space heater
Alberat@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 146d
real talk: can lava lamps generate electricity from solar power? seems possible bc it moves liquids from heat which maybe could turn a turbine? so then you just need to get the sun to heat the bottom of the lamp and put a turbine in the lamp?
FreddiesLantern@leminal.space · 6 pts · 147d
Lavalamptula!
(I know that makes no sense)
OldQWERTYbastard@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 147d
Sounds like a thirty year old Final Fantasy spell.
zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 146d
That's the kind of spell that makes an old wizard croak after casting it.
teslekova@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 146d
Lavaga!
Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 147d
It made sense to me and I thoroughly enjoyed your exuberance!
friend_of_satan@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 147d
The glass lava part is fairly easy to remove. I'd be so worried about something knocking those down on somebody's head.
Onsotumenh@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 146d
Depends on the maker. The bottles of mine are threaded at the bottom and screw in the base.
flambonkscious@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 147d
I feel like it would be very heavy. Wouldn't want it hanging from a chain (although the weight underneath might actually stabilize it more than a rigid hanging?)
Could be one of those situations writes the intuition is all wrong, too
excral@feddit.org · 5 pts · 147d
That's so random
FosterMolasses@leminal.space · 4 pts · 146d
This is the sort of haunt I would want if I had money.
Furniture that looks like it was stitched together in a Homestuck Totem Lathe lol
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 146d
I want it and 2 tabs of acid. Maybe a third for the wife. Hold the electric bill please.
UnGlazedGarlic@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 146d
pretty sure that would only use 120-150 Watt.
unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 146d
Yeah just bulbs. Or Bob Dylan.
Fmstrat@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 147d
Nice random number generator you've got there.
NihilsineNefas@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 147d
" How to keep yourself and five freinds occupied at the dinner party and create a centrepiece that'll leave your guests speechless "
snoons@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 147d
all i see is potential for third-degree burns
Ceruleum@lemmy.wtf · 2 pts · 146d
I'll bet the floor is lava too!
sorrybookbroke@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 147d
Grass@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 147d
I will find a way to burn myself on it. Or one will fall off and splash hot wax globs on me and idk if its water or oil but the less viscous fluid will surely fuck me up too.
FalschgeldFurkan@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 146d
Would definitely buy it
espurr@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 145d
ambiénce
Zacryon@feddit.org · 1 pts · 146d
I would pay money for that.