Too much oxygen will NOT blow the candle out
2006-09-17 12:43:07 · 10 answers · asked by Mickey 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Because the strong breeze blows the combustion reaction away from the fuel source (the wick). Poof.
2006-09-17 12:46:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A burning candle is creating its own fuel out of the wax. The heat of the flame radiates to the wax, melting it. The wick draws the melted wax up toward the flame. The melted wax is vaporized by the flame and is carried up by convection. As the wax vapor enters the flame, it ignites, and continues the process. The vaporized wax must combine with oxygen in order to burn. A gentle breeze will increase the oxygen available to combine with the vaporized wax. Too strong a breeze will carry the flame away from the vaporizing wax as well as cooling the wax vapor. The lowering temperature and reduced fuel will cause the reaction to cease.
;-D Don't try this at home. You will get wax droplets on the carpet!
2006-09-17 13:07:03 · answer #2 · answered by China Jon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A gentle breeze carries more oxygen. One of these things is a certain amount of heat to keep the burning process alive. Another thing is fuel. A strong breeze carries away (molecules) of the fuel (the paraffin vapor) and needed heat. The flame needs both the heat and fuel, a strong breeze significantly reduces both so that the flame is extinguished.
2006-09-17 13:42:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a gentle breeze you are just feeding the flame with additional oxygen causing more efficient combustion. The flame goes out when the amount of air flow is sufficient to cause too much cooling to the combustible material to allow it to continue burning. Remember, 3 things are necessary for combustion: fuel, oxygen and temperature.
2006-09-17 12:51:28 · answer #4 · answered by scuzzyexsailor 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The candle will burn more with a gentle breeze because there is more oxygen getting to it. But, when there is too much oxygen blowing on it, along with other gases, it goes out.
2006-09-17 12:47:42 · answer #5 · answered by bb 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The candle isn't burning, it is the vapors above the wick that are burning. The wind decreases the fuel ratio, taking the concentration below the flammable limits.
2006-09-17 12:48:51 · answer #6 · answered by Tifferz 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you took notice candle lighting had globes and shields to prevent blowing out, then the more sophisticated had candle snuffers.
2006-09-17 12:52:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The flame goes out when the velocity of the wind exceeds the flame velocity, i.e. the speed at which the flame propagates through the combustible mixture.
2006-09-17 13:00:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's the amount of air supplied to the burning fuel
2006-09-17 12:51:09 · answer #9 · answered by taterhead30 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. It cools off the wick.
2006-09-17 12:46:36 · answer #10 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋