why does it melts more slower if a candle is inside a refrigerator than one outside of the refrigerator?

Question

i need a scientific explanation why!

Answer 1

In order for wax to melt, it must reach its melting point. Inside a refrigerator, the temperature of wax is lower, therefore the flame must burn longer in order to heat the wax to its melting point.

Answer 2

First, we have to assume that the candle is getting oxygen from somewhere, or it will just consume the oxygen in the fridge and burn out.

If the candle burns at the same rate in the fridge as anywhere else, it is consuming wax at the same rate. The zone of melted wax around the candle flame will be smaller due to the cooler ambient temperature, so it may appear that less wax is being consumed, but if the flame is the same, the wax consumption is the same.

In reality, if the ambient is cold, the flame will burn just a little more slowly. Some of the combustion energy is being utilized to bring the cold wax up to combustion temperature, reducing the heat available for the flame. Therefore, the flame will not be the same and wax combustion will be a little slower.

Finally - in a real refrigerator, the combination of the heat of the flame and the warm ambient air you must introduce to keep the flame going will probably overwhelm the capacity of the average refrigerator compressor, meaning you will probably have a warm refrigerator and the situation will be no different than sitting out on your table. This depends upon the size of the candle, the size of the refrigerator, and the temperature of your source air to keep the flame going.

Answer 3

The wax in a candle is melted by the heat and combusted for the most part. Wax that melts too soon by the heat of combustion can be lost by dripping down the side of the candle. A refrigerator cools the wax and prevents excess wax from dripping down the side of the candle.

Answer 4

As you burn the oxygen in the fridge, there is less fuel for the candle. Less fuel makes it burn slower (and if air weren't circulated in the fridge it would eventually go out). When it burns outside the fridge, there is a greater abundance of oxygen in the air throughout your house/Earth, so the reaction continues at a steady rate.

To the guy below me:
1) That is the ideal gas law, are you referring to that affecting the candle wax? I hope not.
2) R = Universal Gas Constant (thus the ideal gas law) and not Planck's Constant, which is defined as h

Answer 5

the ambient temparture around the wax is less while in the fridge. Just like a glass of ice will melt slower while in the fridge than on a counter top, as well as in the shade vs. the sun.

Answer 6

Because things melt/melt faster when it's warmer. The refrigerator is cooler, so it takes longer to heat up & melt.

Answer 7

the candle outside the frig. the candle inside the frig burns up all the usable oxygen as candle slowly runs out of oxygen flame gets smaller and smaller until no oxygen left and no flame. candle outside the frig has endless oxygen supply and burns faster

Answer 8

candles stored in the fridge are hard and it takes a while for them to melt because they are cold. it's how the wax behaves - when cold it takes longer for it to melt.

Answer 9

PV =nRT
Pressure X Volume =(mols of material)
(Planks Constant)(Temp)
So, if the Temp is DECREASED the DENSITY will be INCREASED, and the candle burns slower.

Answer 10

i think it melts more slowly inside a frig because it is colder inside.