In what ways is a Lava Lamp similar to Earth's mantle?

Lava lamps are made with oil and water or other clear liquids. Often the oil is given special tints with pigment. It is sort of similar because at the bottom of the lamp there is the heat source, which does expand the oil sufficient to make it rise, where it cools and falls down again. read more

Also, earth could most likely best be seen as a two stage lava lamp. That is the mantle is heated up from below and this magma comes out as lava in convenient spots. Aka we do not get to see much of the inner core stuff. read more

One of the blobs is located beneath the Pacific Ocean, and the other can be found beneath the Atlantic. These underground structures start where the Earth's mantle meets the core, but they send "plumes" up through the rock like a Lava Lamp, the researchers said. read more