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.

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