so along the lines of my pyro facination...?

Question

if oxygen feeds fire, why does a strong dose kill it? you know, like blowing out a candle? shouldn't that make things worse?

Answer 1

You have forgotten the elements of fire. You need fuel, heat and oxygen. Too much oxygen or air like blowing on a candle doesn't allow for heat to burn the fuel, in this case the wick of a candle. It takes time for combustion to happen in the case of a candle since it's so small. You can't say the same for a forest fire or a building on fire. But dowsing it with water like a fire hose will eventually prevent combustion from happening.

Answer 2

You should consider becoming a scientist. It takes a certain type of mind to observe and question a commonplace activity such as blowing out a flame.

I would expect that when we exhale, there is enough oxygen to support the flame, otherwise we could blow slowly, and extinguish the candle. Can clapping your hands, or using an empty squirt gun put out the flame? These would have the same oxygen as the surrounding air.

My guess is that by blowing fast enough, you are blowing away the vaporized gases that are burning. Or you are cooling the air surrounding the flame so the fire can't continue. But this is a guess of mine.

I have given you links to a famous lecture by Faraday, I am pretty sure he would address it. And another web page on the science of candles.

It is fascinating to learn about the actual complex nature of something so seemingly simple as a candle, a piece of string, surrounded by wax.

Isn't it wonderful to look closely, and see the actual complexity and mystery of the ordinary? Have fun observing and experimenting!

Answer 3

Oxygen feeds fire, not wind.

Blowing on a candle has a lot of carbon dioxide in it which isn't good for a fire.

Answer 4

you're breath removes to much heat from the fuel (wick), for fire to burn their must be heat, fuel, and oxygen. the people telling you that we exhale CO2 are correct we do, but their is enough free oxygen in that to feed a fire. blow on a piece of charcoal the next time you barbecue and you will see what i mean.

Answer 5

XD, we don't exhale oxygen, we exhale Carbon Dioxide. Carobon Dioxide will put out a flame. When you blow out a candle, you saturate the flame with CO2 (2 is subscript). That's why it goes out.

Answer 6

Fire consists of three elements, fuel, heat and oxygen. These all have to be in the proper proportiona. Too much or too little of any of these three things equals no fire.

Answer 7

good factor. yet per chance they were given something on there fingers? attempting to tear off un-perforated paper with one hand would probably bring about the finished roll unraveling. and also, at the same time as i bypass to the widely used public rest room, i'd extremely no longer see the position someone had their grubby lil' fingers on the lavatory paper previously me. easily the position I stay, maximum public lavatories do have un-perforated rest room paper with the tear off dispenser so one easily touches the paper.

Answer 8

Depends on a situation.

Answer 9

honey, we don't exhale oxygen