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National STEM Learning Centre and Network
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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
Jumping Candle Flame
Simon Quinnell, from the National STEM Learning Centre and Network, shows how to carry out some ‘magic’ at the Christmas dinner table using a candle and a match.
After letting the candle burn for a minute, Simon blows the flame out so that the smoke continues to rise above it. Then when a match is placed near the wick, the flame appears to jump to the candle to re-light it. This is due to the inefficient combustion of wax which causes the smoke to be full of wax residue.
It is this that lights and allows the flame to ‘jump’ back to the wick.
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