2007-03-19 00:06:57 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes, can candle can burn in zero gravity. However, the flame is quite a bit different. Fire behaves differently in space and microgravity than on Earth.
A microgravity flame forms a sphere surrounding the wick. Diffusion feeds the flame with oxygen and allows carbon dioxide to move away from the point of combustion, so the rate of burning is slowed. The flame of a candle burned in microgravity is an almost invisible blue color (video cameras on Mir could not detect the blue color). Experiments on Skylab and Mir indicate the temperature of the flame is too low for the yellow color seen on Earth.
Smoke and soot production is different for candles and other forms of fire in space or zero gravity compared to candles on earth. Unless air flow is available, the slower gas exchange from diffusion can produce a soot-free flame.
However, when burning stops at the tip of the flame, soot production begins. Soot and smoke production depends on the fuel flow rate.
It isn't true that candles burn for a shorter length of time in space. Dr. Shannon Lucid (Mir), found that candles that burn for 10 minutes or less on Earth produced a flame for up to 45 minutes. When the flame is extinguished, a white ball surrounding the candle tip remains, which may be a fog of flammable wax vapor..
2007-03-19 00:20:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
If there is Oxygen in the Zero Gravity environment, a candle can burn!
Is there oxygen in that space---that is a separate issue!
2007-03-19 00:11:57 · answer #2 · answered by thegentle Indian 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If there's a pre-present bypass of air created with the help of an outdoors fan, the candle flame will carry on with that bypass. If the air in the 0 gravity atmosphere is initially nonetheless, then the candle flame will burn in the form of a sphere.
2016-10-19 01:41:28 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It burns in zero gravity but not in zero oxygen.
2007-03-19 05:36:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Like on the Space Station there is zero gravity and oxygen. But they really don't like fires on the Space Station.
2007-03-19 00:12:02 · answer #5 · answered by Texas Mike 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
By no means.There is no Oxygen which is fundamentally required for burning of the candle.
2007-03-19 05:29:09 · answer #6 · answered by Radhakrishna( prrkrishna) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So long as there is oxygen, yes. The flame will not have the same shape though, but the mechanism for fuel delivery (i.e. wicking) will be unaffected by the absence of gravity.
2007-03-19 01:29:06 · answer #7 · answered by gebobs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it would if proper atmosphere is provided. Once the candle is lit the concentration difference in wax would create a suction pull that would continue supplying liquid wax to the and keep it lit.
2007-03-19 02:42:08 · answer #8 · answered by Riz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. it can surely burn, if we provide air to it.
(Zero gravity doesn't imply no air. e.g. our space shuttles. the astronauts experience zero gravity but the space shuttle is still filled with air.)
2007-03-19 21:34:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. There is no oxygen in zero gravity, and fire needs oxygen to burn.
2007-03-19 00:09:44 · answer #10 · answered by p37ry 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋