Final Conclusion

From these experiments, when comparing the results, I saw a pattern that the White and Green coloured candle were always the ones being last to be burnt. I also noticed that the Red candle managed to always be close to being the one being burnt out first. Therefore, my hypothesis was proven correct! I predicted that the Red candle would burn the fastest (which was proved in Experiment #2) and the White candle would be the most long-lasting (which was proved in Experiment #1). I have learnt that darker colours absorb light, along with heat and lighter colours reflect heat and light. Therefore, when looking for a long-lasting candle to purchase, find lighter colours instead of darker colours, as from my observations and testing, these types of candles lasted the longest.

During the holidays I went overseas..

So i missed out on 2 weeks of productive work :(
But i guess it's okay because i'm nearly done anyway..
Just need to add some finishing touches and it should be fine :)

2nd Experiment Video

Results for 2nd Experiment and Findings

This is in order of which candle burnt the fastest.

NOTE: All measurements are in centimetres, or otherwise stated.

RED

3mins: 6.9

6mins: 6.5

9mins: 6.2

12mins: 5.3

15mins: 4

18mins: 1.7

21mins: 0.4

End time: 21 minutes and 15 seconds

PINK

3mins: 6.9

6mins: 6.5

9mins: 5.8

12mins: 5

15mins: 4

18mins: 3

21mins: 2.4

End time: 23 minutes and 56 seconds

BLUE

3mins: 7.5

6mins: 6.6

9mins: 6.1

12mins: 5

15mins: 4.4

18mins: 3.6

21mins: 2.5

24mins: 1.3

End time: 25 minutes and 39 seconds

YELLOW

3mins: 7

6mins: 6.2

9mins: 5.6

12mins: 4.3

15mins: 3.6

18mins: 2.5

21mins: 1.5

24mins: 1

End time: 26 minutes and 27 seconds

WHITE

3mins: 6.6

6mins: 6.2

9mins: 5.5

12mins: 4.9

15mins: 4.4

18mins: 3.5

21mins: 2.8

24mins: 1.9

27mins: 1.1

End time: 28 minutes and 36 seconds

GREEN

3mins: 7

6mins: 6.6

9mins: 6.1

12mins: 5.2

15mins: 4.5

18mins: 3.5

21mins: 3.4

24mins: 2.5

27mins: 1.7

30mins: 1.1

33mins: 0.8

End time: 33 minutes and 38 seconds

From this experiment, it was found that the Red coloured candle burnt the fastest. At last my predictions came true! Red was the one to finish first at a time of 21 minutes and 15 seconds. This time, the white coloured candle came second last following behind the Green candle who subsequently was the slowest to burn. At first, the Yellow candle was in the lead to be the one who was going to burn the fastest. When comparing the results of Red and Yellow, at the 15^th minute, Yellow measured 3.6cm while Red was 4cm then at the 18 minute mark, Yellow was 2.5cm while Red was 1.7cm! Within 3 minutes Red had decreased in height by 2.3cm! Yellow made the most wax that went in all directions (below picture). Comparing the results from the first experiment and the second, I saw a pattern that the White and Green coloured candle were always the ones being last to be burnt. So if you're looking for a long-lasting candle, buy either a white or green and try not to purchase a Red colour candle as from my observations and testing, this was the colour that burnt the fastest.

1st Experiment Video

Aim: To determine and find out which colour candle burns the fastest. 

Fast-forward mode. Watch :)

At the start, all candles were 8.5cm. 

Yellow was the fastest to burn in this experiment. 

White was the slowest to burn making it the most long-lasting 

compared to the 5 other colours IN THIS EXPERIMENT.

Results for 1st Experiment and Findings

Candles started at 8.5 cm length

Every 3 minutes, i measured the height of the candle with a ruler.

This is in order of which candle burnt the fastest.

YELLOW

3mins: 7.2 cm

6mins: 6 cm

9mins: 4.9 cm

12mins: 3.7 cm

15mins: 3 cm

18mins: 1.8 cm

21mins: 0.7 cm

End time: 22 minutes and 18 seconds

RED

3mins: 7.6 cm

6mins: 6 cm

9mins: 5.6 cm

12mins: 4.2 cm

15mins: 3 cm

18mins: 2 cm

21mins: 1.1 cm

End time: 23 minutes and 52 seconds

BLUE

3mins: 7.8 cm

6mins: 6 cm

9mins: 5.5 cm

12mins: 5 cm

15mins: 4.5 cm

18mins: 3 cm

21mins: 2.1 cm

24mins: 0.6 cm

End time: 25 minutes and 47 seconds

PINK

3mins: 7.3 cm

6mins: 5.5 cm

9mins: 5 cm

12mins: 4.5 cm

15mins: 4 cm

18mins: 3 cm

21mins: 2.4 cm

24mins: 1.6 cm

27mins: 0.6 cm

End time: 29 minutes and 23 seconds

GREEN

3mins: 7.9 cm

6mins: 6.5 cm

9mins: 6.1 cm

12mins: 5 cm

15mins: 4.3 cm

18mins: 3.8 cm

21mins: 3.2 cm

24mins: 2.2 cm

27mins: 1.9 cm

30mins: 1.2 cm

33mins: 0.4 cm

End time: 33 minutes and 55 seconds

WHITE

3mins: 7.2 cm

6mins: 6 cm

9mins: 5.6 cm

12mins: 5 cm

15mins: 4 cm

18mins: 3.5 cm

21mins: 3 cm

24mins: 2 cm

27mins: 1.7 cm

30mins: 1 cm

33mins: 0.7 cm

End time: 35 minutes and 19 seconds

From this experiment, it was found that the Yellow Candle burnt the fastest. In my hypothesis, i predicted that the Red candle would have burnt the fastest, but as we have investigated, Red was the candle that actually came close to being the first one! I was very surprised at this discovery as i was adamant that Red would have burnt the fastest, but that's why we need to do another experiment to see the consistency of results. After the 12th minute, the Yellow candle was outstanding from the rest, it was clear that Yellow would be the one that would burn the fastest. However, at the 15th minute mark, Red came racing by which made it neck-to-neck with Yellow, both measuring at 5cm. Yellow then ended at a time of 22mins and 18secs, which declared that this was the colour that burnt the fastest out of the rest. The last candle standing was White measuring at the time of 35mins and 19secs. The difference between the slowest and fastest time length (35mins 19secs minus 22mins 18secs) is 13mins and 1 sec.

Equipment, Safety Precautions & Method

Equipment:

• 6 different coloured candles (White, Red, Pink, Yellow, Blue, Green)
• Stopwatch to measure the time
• Ruler to measure the candles
• Something to hold the candles up (I used a Sponge)
• Lighter or Matches
• Notepad to record results and observations down
• Video Camera and Camera to capture to experiment for visual aid

Safety Precautions

• Keep long hair tied back incase of getting it caught on fire
• Do not touch the flame
• Never leave candles unattended

• Keep candles away from flammable materials

Method

1. Align the candles.
   
   
2. Start the stopwatch as the candles are lit with the match/lighter.
   
   
3. Record the measurement of the candle using a ruler every 3 minutes
   
   
4. Keep an eye on the candles
   
   
5. Jot down any observations on a notepad, take photos and videos
   
   
6. Record results (record the time when the candles are completely gone)
   
   
7. Repeat this experiment one more time for consistency of results and reliability.

Research

• The speed at which a candle burns is not determined by its colour, but by its composition.

• The three main types of candles are paraffin, beeswax and soy.

• There are many variables that affect the burning time: the quality of the wick, the composition of the candle, as well as the size of the candle.

• Black absorbs light, along with heat. Unlike white, which reflects heat and light.
  
  
• A candle is a solid block of fuel (commonly wax) and an embedded wick, which is lit to provide light and sometimes heat.
  
  
• Today, most candles are made from paraffin.
  
  
• Candles can also be made from beeswax, soy other plant waxes, and tallow.
  
  
• Tallows are by-product of beef-fat rendering. (below)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Gel candles are made from a mixture of paraffin and plastic.
  
  
• Paraffin is from crude petroleum.
  
  
• A flame is a glowing mixture of gases called combustion. The gases contain oxygen combined with some of the following: hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or hydrocarbon.
  
  
• A candle flame has 3 separate zones.
  1. The first and innermost zone is composed of air/gas mixture, very low temp.
  2. The second zone has hydrogen and carbon monoxide reacting with the oxygen from surrounding air and forms water and carbon dioxide. The temperature is about 590 degrees celsius. The bright yellow light is created by the carbon action.
  3. The third section is mostly invisible to us. It is the fumes.
  
  
  

  INFORMATION FROM..

  
  
  
  
  

  Wales, J. (2001) Wikipedia [Internet]. USA. Available from:<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candle>[accessed 16th March, 2011].

  
  

  Acton, J. (1994) Encyclopedia.com [Internet]. Available from:<http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Candles.aspx>

  [accessed 16th March, 2011].

  
  

  Knight, C. (1999) Ezine @rticles [Internet]. Available from:<http://ezinearticles.com/?Basic-Candle-Information&id=3345264>[accessed 16th March, 2011].

  
  

  (1974) National Candle Association [Internet]. USA. Available from:<http://www.candles.org/about_facts.html>[accessed 17th March, 2011].

  
  

  Fuller, B. (1996) CandleHome.com [Internet]. Bellevue, WA, USA. Available from:<http://www.candlehome.com/>[accessed 17th March, 2011].

  
  

  Smith, J. (2002) My Craft Book [Internet]. USA. Available from:<http://www.mycraftbook.com/Candle_Wax.asp>[accessed 17th March, 2011].

  
  

  Harrison, S. (2002)Soyphisticated Candles [Internet]. Mason City, Lowa, USA. Available from:<http://www.soyphisticatedcandles.com/fyi.html>[accessed 17th March, 2011]

Aim, Hypothesis, Variables

Aim: To determine and find out which colour candle burns the fastest

Hypothesis: I predict that the white colour candle would burn the slowest because it reflects heat and light as discovered in my research. I guess that the red colour candle would burn the fastest because it seemed to be a darker colour compared to the rest.

Dependent Variable:

• Height of candle (using a ruler)
• The time for every 3 minutes and how long it takes the candle to completely burn out (using a stopwatch).

Independent Variable:

• Colour of the candle

Controlled Variable:

• Length of the candle in the beginning
• Starting time of the candles
• Brand of candles -
• Composition of candles
• Location during the experiment.

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)