When you have an upside-down cup with a lemon and 3 matches lit under it, plus water covering the opening of the cup on the bottom, the water gets sucked up into the cup. Why does this happen? I need a very thorough explanation.
2006-09-14 14:18:39 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
OK, there's a little saucer filled with water. There is a lemon laying flat in the water. There is also 3 matches stuck in the lemon facing up and they are lit. Then you put a cup over the lemon and the matches so that it covers everything. So, there's a lemon with three lit matches stuck into it in a saucer with water and a cup over it. The water all gets sucked up into the cup. How and why does this happen. Please be very thorough.
2006-09-14 14:23:08 · update #1
can you elaborate a little more. i can't quite visualize what you doing
2006-09-14 14:21:00 · answer #1 · answered by Scott L 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The matches burn and consume the oxygen from the air trapped in the cup. With that component gone there is less gas in the cup and the water rises up into the empty space.
I assume the lemon is to make lemonade from the water to celebrate after you have successfully finished the experiment. It has no other purpose in the combustion reaction.
2006-09-14 14:24:20 · answer #2 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is a very standard experiment. I will give you a hint, hot air in the cup must expand an then some strange stuff happens to it.
I am sure somone else will giv eyou the complete answer but think about it please.
I will tell you that the answer of the fire creating a vaccuum by using up oxygen is wrong. The oxygen is replaced by carbon dioxide. However this line of thinking is on the right track.
2006-09-14 14:23:30 · answer #3 · answered by abcdefghijk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It creates a vacuum that sucks the water into the cup. That's not very thorough, but that's what happens...lol
2006-09-14 14:22:38 · answer #4 · answered by rdnck_grl_ms_007 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋