spontaneous combustion?

Question

What is spontaneous combustion? And what is nessasarry for it to occur?

Answer 1

Spontaneous combustion is heating to the point of ignition,without external stimulus.

It can occur because of bacterial activity, or chemical reaction. Linseed oil-soaked rags ignite spontaneously because of rapid oxidation. Agricultural products like hay can ignite from bacterial or chemical decomposition

In order for ignition to occur, the heating mechanism must generate heat faster than it is being given off by conduction, radiation or convection. Oily rags ignite easily because they have large surface areas on which oxidation can occur.

Answer 2

Spontaneous human combustion (SHC) is the alleged burning of a person's body without a readily apparent, identifiable external source of ignition. The combustion may result in simple burns and blisters to the skin, smoking, or a complete incineration of the body. The latter is the form most often 'recognized' as SHC. There is much speculation and controversy over SHC. It is not a proven natural occurrence, but many theories have attempted to explain SHC's existence and how it may occur. The two most common explanations offered to account for apparent SHC are the non-spontaneous "wick effect" fire, and the rare discharge called static flash fires. Although mathematically it can be shown that the human body contains enough energy stored in the form of fat and other tissues to consume it completely, in normal circumstances bodies will not sustain a flame on their own.

Answer 3

It's when something ignites because of internal energy and without external energy being added to the system. The classic examples are hay or grass clippings. Because of decomposition the hay or grass can eventually reach a temperature where it'll ignite, I have a mulch pile and I didn't stir it for a week and when I finally did, the grass was steaming and too hot to touch. There needs to be any exothermic reaction taking place.

Answer 4

Not likely to exist. Modern science has yet to reproduce the effects or anything close to it.