2007-11-08 12:06:40 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
As the candle burns, some of the mass is lost as smoke. Of course you also lose the mass represented by the burnt wick too!
Molten wax is also of lower density that solid wax.
With the overall mass decrease, the volume displaced by the candle decreases and the candle sits higher in the water.
Cheers :)
2007-11-08 12:16:19 · answer #1 · answered by Rygar 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Water Floating Candles
2016-10-19 05:29:06 · answer #2 · answered by ferer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I would have to guess that as a candle burns the mass of the candle decreases thus it becomes lighter in weight as well and it does not displace as much water which is why it will float higher than when you placed it in water.
2007-11-08 12:11:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beacause you are floating them in a glass jar turned upside down over a pan of water. Air is a mix of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. As the candles burn the oxygen in the air under the glass jar, the oxygen is used up. The reduced pressure in the atmosphere in the jar sucks up water from the pan. So the candles rise in the jar.
2007-11-08 12:11:48 · answer #4 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
mass is leaving the candle as it gets burned and turned to CO2 and wafts away. its like if you unload a ship the empty ship sits high in the water. the candle is 'unloading' wax by burning it and turning it to a a gas and lets it go away.
2007-11-08 12:14:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd assume because they are lighter as the wax melts, so they raise up in the water.
2007-11-08 12:09:53 · answer #6 · answered by Devon R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they weigh less?
2007-11-08 12:09:30 · answer #7 · answered by don_sv_az 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you serious with this question?
2007-11-08 12:14:51 · answer #8 · answered by whatever_3645 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋