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Description

Burning Candle Rising Water Experiment

Resources

-A plate with a raised rim or a shallow bowl
-Water
-Candle
-Lighter or matches
-Drinking glass or mason jar
-Optional: food coloring
-Optional: Playdough

Instructions

1. Place the candle in the middle of the plate or bowl.
2. Optional: If your candle can’t stand by itself, use some playdough to help it stand upright.
3. Optional: Mix water with food colouring in a separate container. The food colouring helps you see the rising water better.
4. Pour the coloured water into the plate (to about 1 cm in depth).
5. Light the candle with a lighter or match.
6. Turn the glass or mason jar upside down and place it over the candle.
7. Watch what happens to the water when the fire is still burning, and what happens when the fire extinguishes.

What variables can you test to see how they impact the water rising?
-Use hot water or cold water instead of room temperature water. Does the temperature of the water matter?
-Use a larger candle or smaller candle. Does the size of the candle matter?
-Use multiple candles. Does the increase in candles (and hence, larger flames) change the water level?
-Use a different liquid like vinegar or milk instead of water. Does the type of liquid change the outcome?
-Pour more or less water in the plate. Does the amount of water affect how much water gets pushed into the glass once the flame goes out?
-Change the drinking glass to a bigger or smaller drinking glass. Does the size of the drinking glass matter?
-Use a drinking glass with a narrower neck. What do you observe?

Tags

• experiment
• experiment badge
• water

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