Heat from the lamp rises and causes the
paper spiral to spin.
Heat Conduction and
Balance
The flames go out on each end of the
match as they reach the utensils and glass edge because both the
metal and glass serve as heat conductors. They are able to
conduct enough of the heat away from the flame so that the wood is
unable to continue to burn and the whole contraption remains
balanced. Cool!
How Air Pressure
Affects Water Level
The heated air trapped in the glass
expanded and bubbled out through the mouth of the submerged glass.
The flame consumes the oxygen and goes out, only to be replaced by a
relative equal amount of carbon dioxide. The air cools and
contracts creating a partial vacuum The surrounding higher air
pressure forces water into the jar- alas, nature always wants to
equalize pressure.
Burning Iron
Steel wool burns because oxygen,
which is necessary for burning, is able to surround the strands
of steel. These thin strands of steel have very little
mass to conduct the heat away and easily burn.
