What are the similarities between fluorescent light bulbs and lava lamps?
There are not any significant similarities other than the fact that both need to be heated to work properly. A fluorescent light bulb uses electrical current to heat mercury vapors inside the fluorescent tube. A lava lamp uses a light bulb (it might be a fluorescent bulb) to heat the liquid and make is swirl around. To find out more about lava lamps click here: http://www.howstuffworks.com/question36.htm. For more information, please visit: http://www.nichia.com/phosphor.html –Basic info on phosphor in the bulbs. http://www.electrochem.org/publications/interface/summer2003/IF6-03-Pages48-51.pdf –A very technical description of the bulbs. http://www.gelighting.com/na/downloads/lmi_sheet6.pdf –A health safety sheet about florescent bulbs.