Demonstrations

Rotating Candle

Code Number :	1D52.40
Disclaimer:	Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website. The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources. Further information regarding legal liability in use of demonstrations and labs will be found on the web site Injuries in School/College Laboratories in USA. The University of Iowa Disclaimers: U of Iowa Disclaimer All Rights Reserved.
Condition :	Excellent
Principle :	Central Forces
Area of Study :	Fluid Dynamics
Equipment :	Bell jar, rotating air table, candle and holder, grill lighter.
Procedure :	Place the lighted candle on the rotating air table and cover with the bell jar. Make sure the bell jar is centered. Rotate with a speed of about 1 to 2 rps. The candle flame should point in a radial direction toward the center. The angle of the flame will be dependent upon its radius on the air table and the rotation rate.

References

Editors Introduction, TPT, Vol. 36, # 7, p. 426, Oct. 1998.

Camille Wainwright, Richard Wiener, " Is a Density Gradient Necessary for a Rotating Flame to Bend?, " TPT, Vol. 36, # 7, p. 426, Oct. 1998.

Qishan Mou, " A Response, " TPT, Vol. 36, # 7, p. 427, Oct. 1998.

Paul Chagnon, " Referee's Critique," TPT, Vol. 36, # 7, p. 428, Oct. 1998.

Qishan Mou, "A Candle in a Rotating Coordinate System," TPT, Vol. 35, # 9, p. 542, (Dec. 1997).

Fl- 4: Freier and Anderson, A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.

M-141: Richard Manliffe Sutton, Demonstration Experiments in Physics.

Mail Questions and Comments to: Dale Stille