Lesson 2: Flame burning away from the wick
A candle transforms the solid fuel (the wax) into liquid fuel (molten wax) that is then converted into gaseous fuel. Under normal conditions, this fuel burns in the flame. However, it is possible to remove this gaseous fuel from where it is produced and make it burn away from the candle.
Lesson 2: Flame burning away from the wick
A candle transforms the solid fuel (the wax) into liquid fuel (molten wax) that is then converted into gaseous fuel. Under normal conditions, this fuel burns in the flame. However, it is possible to remove this gaseous fuel from where it is produced and make it burn away from the candle.
Candle flame burning away from the wick
Now we are going to see that the vaporized fuel released from the wick can burn further away from the candle comparing to the previous experience.
We are going to make a little straw here with aluminium foil. With the help of a pencil, we can make a tube to let the fuel pass through it. And using paper to make some kind of “paper tweezers” to hold the straw because the tube will reach high temperatures.
The result:
Now we will try to take some vaporized fuel from the candle, and we can see that the fuel that comes from the lower flame is now burning at the top of the tube. This means that the vaporized fuel can be consumed away from where its produced, which means – it can burn further away from the place where it was originated.
This is relevant in situations such as urban fires when there are burning objects in a compartment that releases volatile fuel gases that can spread throughout the building and accumulate in another compartment. Eventually they will burn if they reach a source of ignition or even cause an explosion.