Scientifically, how could dragons breath fire?

Question

I've always wondered if it was possible.

Answer 1

A fire can only form if a fuel is being burnt. Wood, paper, LPG, methane...

Since we always see the dragon "breathing" out the fire, let's assume the fuel is gaseous or vapourized liquid. This means the fuel should have low molecular mass, since those with higher molecular mass would be viscous liquids or even solids.

And given that we always see dragons breathing out red or orange fire, we can assume the gaseous fuel breathed out is not completely combusted, since complete combustion gives a clear blue fire (like in gas stoves). Usually complete combustion is found in fuel with lower molecule mass (e.g. methane, hydrogen) and burnt slowly. That means either the dragon breathes out fuel with medium molecular mass (e.g. naphthla vapours) or it's breathing out fuel with low molecular mass very quickly.

Now we have the fuel, we need to light the fire.

A fire is lit by a spark, usually made by striking two surfaces together (like striking a match). The two surfaces need to be a) hard (e.g. striking a flint) or b) easily combustible (e.g. rubbing wood together) or c) coated with something combustible (e.g. matches). Another possibility is lighting the fire by an electric spark.

In the case of the dragon, we can suppose there is the same spark producing mechanism inside the nostrils, so when the dragon breathes out, say, naphthla, it is lit and fire shoots out.

In the technically simpler case of two surfaces being rubbed against each other, (b) and (c) are less likely, since the two surfaces would be lit, and the fire would burn inside the poor dragon's nostrils instead of shooting out!

Probably, there're two pieces of hard things inside the nostrils, and when the dragon forcefully breathes out, the two pieces rub against each other, producing a spark.

Or maybe the dragon can somehow manipulate the electric signals inside its body, so that they converge at its nostrils and produce an electric spark. This is less likely though, since the totally amount of electric currents inside a human's body is thousands of times less than that needed to light a fire. Unless a dragon is thousands of times larger than a human, this form of lighting the fire is unlikely.

Answer 2

Where the original concept of a dragon came from is unknown, as there is no accepted scientific theory or any evidence to support that dragons actually exist or have existed. So how can we give a scientific explanation for any of the activities of something which doesn't exist scientifically? We can probably make some guesses, imaginations, speculations, and suggestions.♥

Answer 3

I used to wonder about this as well. The only thing I could ever come up with is this:

- Dragons live in caves, and would (possibly) consume flint stones.
- The would have digestive tracts that never excreted. Therefore, all of their waste would build up internally, producing methane.
- Dragons could then belch out the methane while grinding the flint in their gullet. This would ignite the methane.

Maybe it's a long shot, then then again so are dragons. I also wondered how such thin, leathery wings could possibly make such a huge creature fly.

Answer 4

A better method of "breathing fire" woudl be for the "Dragon" to have special glands which each produce a chemical. The two glands would have to produce each one chemical which, alone, is stable, but when conbinded with the other chemical recats violently producing something akin to napalm ie fire. Is it possible, yes. Is it probably, no not really. To date, no verifiable "dragons" have ever been found with one exception --- the Kamoto Dragons. Though these are not dragons in the mythalogical sence, they are, nontheless dragons.

Answer 5

If a dragon inhabited a cave which birds or bats also lived in- the dung, guano and decaying dead animals would emit a lot of flammable methane.

Komodo dragons live with large amounts of bacteria in their mouth. If there was a bacteria which could ignite methane- this would
A; produce heat meaning the dragon can stay out of the sun
B; neutralise the methane which is toxic to the bacteria
C; kill parasitic insects and ward off curious bats or birds
So both sides would gain.

Answer 6

Dragons do not exist. It is just that there are some reptiles which are called dragons. One such example is the Comodo Dragon.

Answer 7

Scientifically, dragons dont exist. Your parents are ashamed of you.

Answer 8

Oh''' Wake up. It is not the real world. It is the TELL. Do not think too much