why is there a delay in the ignition of the match when it was inserted into the flame just above the barrel?

Answer 1

The ignition of the match requires a definite temperature to catch fire if the temperature is less or it takes some time to get that desired temperature than the ignition make take time.In the area just above the barrel the temperature available is sufficient to catch immediate fire, hence, it takes some time for the match to get ignition commenced.

Answer 2

Because various parts of a flame are at different temperatures. The hottest part is just above the inner cone. The lower area is actually quite cool and may not even be hot enough to ignite anything. The best reference to talk about this was written by Faraday in the early 1800's . His "Chemical history of a Candle" is still in print and makes great reading,

Answer 3

The heighest temperature in a flame is just at the upper tip, and the least temperature is just adjescent to the wick. That is why.

The upper tip is hot because the fuel has just got oxidisex and the hot gases rise up. The flame adjescent to wick is least temperature because some energy is absorbed for evaporation of fuel to gascious state for burning. The fuel has not oxidised yet.