I2-42: FALLING CANDLE

ID Code: I2-42
Purpose: Demonstrate how a flame burns in the absence of normal convection.
Description: A candle, attached to the lid of a one-gallon jug, is lit and the lid screwed onto the upside-down jug. Throw the upside-down jug into the air and catch it or hold the upside-down jug high and drop it and catch it as it falls. While it is falling, the system inside the jar is in a weightless environment, so convection currents cease. In normal burning, the hot air rises by convection, allowing cooler air containing more oxygen to continuously feed the fire. Without these convection currents the candle should immediately go out, BUT IT DOES NOT.
Availability: Available

See the Physics Question of the Week for 5/11/2015 for an example of how this demonstration can be used in class interaction and discussion: lecdem.physics.umd.edu/question-of-the-week-archive.html