Flames in space...
"if it ain't the same, it's different..."

Gravity:

under the influence of gravity, bouyant convection causes a flame to form a teardrop shape with the rising soot providing the yellow color

Microgravity:

when gravity is weak, convective flows are absent causing a flame to form a spherical shape and have a sootless blue color


Continue on for a student activity that investigates the effect of gravity on a burning candle.


BACK HOME FORWARD