Its realated with chemistry,exolsive reactions,activation energy,, potential enery. I learning about those things now and i came up with this question.
2007-02-06 10:06:56 · 18 answers · asked by Ballerina 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
My guess is that shavings have more surface area exposed to air (oxygen) than does a log. That should make the shavings burn more efficiently and easily.
2007-02-06 10:10:42 · answer #1 · answered by cottagstan 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because burning takes place in direct proportion to the ease at which the fuel and the oxygen can interact with each other. Oxygen is all around wood shavings making it easy for them to burn, but to get into the heart of a log the outer part has to burn off first.
In fact, if you grind wood up into a powder and throw it in the air, it can explode like gunpowder, and some sawmills have had this happen, for the same reason, air and fuel mixes so fast.
2007-02-06 10:14:11 · answer #2 · answered by themountainviewguy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wood shavings have a larger surface area to support combustion than a log.
2007-02-06 10:10:20 · answer #3 · answered by phantomlimb7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wood chips have more surface area than the wood and are surrounded by air (oxygen) needed to combust. Because the chips are smaller the heat applied to the surface quickly heats the entire chip to it's kindling temperature. Because the chips are smaller they are also more lifely to be thouroughly dry throughout, so there is less moisture to retard combustion.
2007-02-06 10:13:22 · answer #4 · answered by aiguyaiguy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wood chips are smaller pieces and the log is one big piece therefore taking more time to burn it I assume
2007-02-06 10:09:50 · answer #5 · answered by Sugastack 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wood shavings have much more air (oxygen) in the volume of it so it burns very easy.
2007-02-06 10:09:21 · answer #6 · answered by twinsisterwendy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Density. The log burns slower because it is thicker. The same basic idea applies to ice and melting. If you take 2 chunks of ice that are the same size and smash one down into small pieces, the pile of ice chips will melt faster than the solid block.
2007-02-06 10:10:12 · answer #7 · answered by ♥♫♥ Crystal ♥♫♥ 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The shavings burn faster because the fire doesn't have to heat it up as much because it is so thin.
2007-02-06 10:13:08 · answer #8 · answered by Supes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have more surface area to burn in porportion to size. They are smaller and heat up much quicker.
2007-02-06 10:10:56 · answer #9 · answered by Tikimaskedman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because there is air in between all the shavings this air allows for the fire to breath and burn the material quicker and hoter.
2007-02-06 10:11:14 · answer #10 · answered by cycopathicrunna 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋