If a candle is lit in a spacecraft without gravity... Question 8 options, pick o

ID: 2088018 • Letter: I

Question

If a candle is lit in a spacecraft without gravity...

Question 8 options, pick one:

a. The candle will light, but not burn very well, as no natural convection flows develop.

b. The candle will not light.

c. The candle will light and burn better than on Earth, as the natural convection flows are not held down by gravity.

d. The candle will light and burn just like on Earth, as natural convection flows are independent of the gravity.

a. The candle will light, but not burn very well, as no natural convection flows develop.

b. The candle will not light.

c. The candle will light and burn better than on Earth, as the natural convection flows are not held down by gravity.

d. The candle will light and burn just like on Earth, as natural convection flows are independent of the gravity.

Answer is a ) The candle will light, but not burn very well, as no natural convection flows develop.

When a candle burns on earth, the flame heats up the air around it, causing that air to rise. This allows fresh oxygen to move in towards the candle flame so the flame can keep burning.
In zero gravity, there is no such effect as 'hot air rises' so this can't happen. The hot air tends to stay very close to the candle flame, and without any sort of outside ventilation to keep the air moving, the flame will burn at a much lower temperature than on Earth and the candle will eventually burn itself out.

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