
The traveling flame trick is a simple yet fascinating experiment that involves relighting a candle from a distance using nothing but its own smoke. After blowing out a candle, you can reignite the wick by placing a second flame into the smoke trail, causing a blue flame to travel along the trail and light the candle once more. This trick is based on the science of how candles work and the vaporized wax that briefly remains in the air after blowing them out.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
What is the trick? | Relighting a candle using its smoke as a flame bridge |
What does it look like? | Magic |
What is it, in reality? | Science |
What do you need? | A candle, a second source of flame (e.g. another candle, a lighter, or a match), and safety equipment (a fire extinguisher) |
What are the steps? | 1. Light a candle. 2. Blow it out. 3. Place the second flame into the smoke trail coming from the wick. 4. The blue flame travels along the trail to the wick and the candle glows again. |
What happens when you light a candle? | Heat melts wax close to the wick. 2. The melted wax moves up the wick by capillary action. 3. The wax vaporizes and breaks down into hydrogen and carbon. 4. The gaseous wax burns in oxygen to produce water vapour, carbon dioxide, heat, and light. |
What is the "smoke" from a candle? | A complex material, including "soot" (a black substance composed of carbon), and unburned wax vapour. |
What colour is the flame you usually see on a candle? | Yellow |
What colour is the flame that travels along the smoke? | Blue |
What is the temperature of the blue flame? | Around 2,500°F (1400°C) |
What happens when you blow out a candle? | Vaporized wax remains in the air for a few seconds. |
How do you relight the candle? | Apply a heat source to ignite the wax vapour and relight the wick. |
What You'll Learn
The flame travels through the smoke to the wick
The travelling flame trick is a fun science experiment that might seem like magic, but it's based on the science of how candles work. When you light a candle, the heat from the flame vaporises the candle wax. This wax vapour is what makes up the smoke you see when you blow out the candle. If you apply a flame to the smoke, you ignite the wax vapour, and the flame travels along the smoke trail to the wick, lighting the candle once again.
To perform the travelling flame trick, start by lighting a candle. Have a second source of flame ready, such as another candle, a lighter, or a match. Blow out the first candle and immediately place the other flame into the smoke trail coming from the wick. You can be close to the wick, but you don't want the flame to touch it. The flame will then travel along the smoke trail to the wick, relighting the candle.
The trick works because the smoke from a blown-out candle is made up of vaporised wax, which can be ignited with a flame. The fire spreads quickly down to the wick, where there is a fresh supply of wax that will evaporate and burn. The smoke from a candle also contains unburned wax vapour, which has a high enough temperature to combust with the touch of a flame. This is why you need to be above the wick to ignite the smoke trail.
The travelling flame trick is a great way to learn about the science of candles and fire. It's important to note that fire safety precautions should always be followed when performing this or any other experiment involving fire.
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The smoke is a trail of vaporized wax
The "traveling flame" trick is a fascinating science experiment that involves relighting a candle using its smoke as a flame bridge. While it may seem like magic, this trick is based on the science of how candles work and the properties of smoke.
When you light a candle, the heat from the flame melts the wax near the wick. This molten wax then moves up the wick through capillary action, a process where the wick's material draws the wax upwards. As the wax travels up the wick, it vaporizes, turning into a hot gas due to the heat of the flame. The vaporized wax combines with oxygen and burns, producing light and heat energy.
When you blow out a candle, you might notice a trail of smoke rising from the wick. This smoke is not just ordinary; it is a complex mixture of substances. It contains "soot," a black material composed mostly of carbon, which gives the candle's flame its yellow color. However, the smoke also includes unburned wax vapor. This wax vapor remains hot for a few seconds after the candle is blown out, and it is this brief window of time that the traveling flame trick relies on.
The key to the trick is understanding that the smoke trail is made up of vaporized wax, which can be ignited. By holding a flame near the smoke trail and ensuring it doesn't touch the wick, you can ignite the wax vapor. A blue flame will travel along the trail of smoke back to the wick, causing the candle to relight. It is important to note that the flame only ignites the wax vapor and not the soot or other debris in the smoke. Additionally, still air in the room helps maintain a clear smoke trail, making it easier to execute the trick.
The traveling flame trick is a fascinating demonstration of the science behind candle combustion and the properties of smoke. It showcases how the heat from the flame vaporizes the wax, and how this vaporized wax can be reignited, even at a distance from the wick.
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The wick's combustible substance ignites the wax
The traveling flame trick is a classic magic trick that never fails to amaze audiences. A key component of this illusion is the use of a special candle with a secret that makes it unique. The wick of this candle is treated with a combustible substance that becomes the catalyst for the entire trick. So, how does it work? The wick's combustible coating is the key. This substance has a lower ignition temperature than the wax, which means it will ignite and burn first. When lit, the flame moves rapidly along the wick, igniting the coating as it goes.
The speed at which the flame travels is due to two main factors: the composition of the combustible substance and the design of the wick. The substance must be able to burn quickly and evenly, and it should also be relatively unstable, so it ignites with the slightest encouragement from the lit match. The wick is usually made from a material that burns slowly and consistently, ensuring that the flame travels at a predictable rate along its length. As the match is brought close to the wick, the heat causes the combustible substance to ignite.
This initial ignition is key to the entire trick, as the speed and intensity of this first flame encourage the audience that this is a regular candle. The ignition of the wick's coating creates a small, intense flame that moves swiftly along the wick's length. This is where the magic happens—as this initial flame reaches the wax, it ignites, and the main candle flame is produced. The speed and intensity of the traveling flame, combined with the sudden ignition of the wax, create a dramatic and impressive effect. The audience is none the wiser, believing they are witnessing a standard candle-lighting procedure.
The trick wicks are often treated with a substance that is more combustible than the wax itself. This could be a thin coating of a flammable liquid, such as a specialized candle fuel, or a fine powder that is highly combustible. When the match flame comes into contact with this treated section of the wick, it ignites instantly and burns rapidly along the wick toward the wax. The speed and intensity of this initial flame are crucial to the trick's success. The rapid movement and bright flame capture the audience's attention and create the illusion of a standard candle-lighting process.
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The flame's heat melts and vaporises the wax
The travelling flame trick is a simple yet fascinating demonstration of the science behind how candles work. The key to the trick lies in understanding the role of heat in melting and vaporising the wax.
When a candle is lit, the heat from the flame causes the top layer of wax to melt. This molten wax then moves up through the wick via capillary action, a process by which the wax molecules are drawn upwards through small passages in the wick due to electrical attraction. As the wax travels up the wick, it eventually reaches a point where the heat causes it to undergo a phase change from a liquid state to a gaseous state, a process known as vaporisation or evaporation.
The vapourised wax then comes into contact with the flame, where it ignites and begins to burn. This burning of the wax vapour is what sustains the candle's flame. It is important to note that it is not the wick itself that burns, but rather the wax vapour that rises up through it. As the wax vapour burns, it produces heat energy, which in turn melts more wax, continuing the cycle and keeping the candle burning.
When you blow out a candle, you interrupt this cycle by removing the heat source. However, the vapourised wax does not immediately disappear. It remains in the air for a brief period, creating a trail of smoke above the wick. This vapourised wax is the key to the travelling flame trick.
By quickly introducing a new heat source, such as a lighter or another candle, and placing it near the smoke trail, you can ignite the vapourised wax within the smoke. This creates a bridge of flame that travels down the smoke trail to the wick, causing the candle to relight without direct contact between the flame and the wick.
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The flame's heat causes the wax to burn
The traveling flame trick is a fascinating science experiment that involves relighting a candle using its smoke as a bridge for the flame. While it may seem like magic, it is based on the scientific principles of how candles work and the behaviour of wax vapour.
When you light a candle, the heat from the flame melts the wax near the wick. This molten wax then moves up the wick due to capillary action, a process where the wick material draws the liquid wax upwards. As the wax continues to heat up, it reaches its boiling point and vaporises, turning from a liquid state into a hot gas. This vapourised wax is what fuels the candle's flame. When the candle is blown out, the wax vapour remains in the air for a few seconds, creating the smoke trail.
The key to the travelling flame trick lies in understanding the properties of this wax vapour. When the candle is extinguished, the wax vapour is still present in the smoke and retains its flammability. By introducing a new flame into the smoke trail, you ignite this vapour, creating a bridge of fire that travels back down to the wick. This phenomenon occurs because the wax vapour is highly combustible, and even a small amount of heat is sufficient to ignite it.
To ensure the success of the trick, it is important to act quickly after blowing out the candle. The wax vapour will only remain ignitable for a short time before dissipating or cooling down. Additionally, it is crucial to maintain still air around the candle to maximise the concentration of wax vapour around the wick, providing a clear path for the flame to travel.
The travelling flame trick is a fascinating demonstration of the science behind candle burning. It showcases how the heat from the flame causes wax to melt, vaporise, and ultimately ignite, creating a self-sustaining cycle that keeps the candle burning.
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