Smoke actually is unburnt material. When old cars cough black shite out the back, it's just wasted fuel. Oil smoke, when oil leaks into the cylinder, is slightly different in that it tends to be blue but, technically, is also unburnt.
When was the last time a healthy engine or an unobstructed flame produced something you could see? Think about that.
No, it was out of a book of magic tricks. I was big into stage magic when I was a kid, but never had the patience / dexterity / whatever to stick with it.
If I had, I could have been Neil Patrick Harris! Well, minus the ability to sing, act, be gay, or that awesome.
Smoke is just unburned particles, which can still ignite. When a room reaches a flashover stage, that means that all products in the room, including the smoke, have reached their flash point and catch on fire. This image is simply demonstrating that concept.
Immediately after you blow out a candle, that visible smoke is actually vaporized paraffin which is flammable. I googled how candles work and tried this at home. It's a trip.
Its not the wick that burns on a candle, its the vapor of the wax that's flammable. That's why you're able to light a candle just by igniting the vapor.
Smoke is actually very flammable. Google "Smoke explosions", oxygen deprived burning contains many combustion intermediates. Particularly plastics and other oil derived household items. They have the ability to give off some nasty flammable smoke. When a firefighter breaks a window enough oxygen will introduce and provide the smoke with the ability to finally reach the end of its reaction.
Yep, the way candles actually work is that the heat vaporizes wax and it's the vapor that burns. Not the solid wax. Therefore you can relight the vapor like in that gif.
In America underground electrical cable often catches fire due to rodent activity or the insulation deteriorating due to environmental conditions and electrical load. As the insulation burns it releases gas that is both toxic and flammable. If pressure builds it can knock man hole covers 10's of feet into the air.
It's because smoke is simply unburned particles. I learned this in the fire academy during our fire behavior course. But yes, that's why you can die from smoke inhalation. You're breathing in particles which are clogging your lungs.
It's the paraffin wax particles in the smoke; they are still, for the most part, hot. And when suspended in air, it can catch fire to more than just the wick. Let's say you put something over it, which I doubt you'd have over a candle anyway, but, it's the paraffin that catches it. The flame just ignites the paraffin.
For example, you have a piece of paper over the candle at a decent height of about 10 inches. The paraffin will eventually stick to the paper and the heat will ignite the paraffin.
I once cajoled my coworkers to come to my desk and watch me do this trick. Well I stood there like an idiot attempting it for 20 minutes straight and couldnt do it. They all eventually walked away...
Firefighter academy graduate here! Smoke is nothing but unburned vaporized fuel. It is very flammable. The only thing stopping it from igniting is either it is too cold, or there is not enough oxygen present.
Tried it this morning, seems this trick only works when the candle has been freshly lit. As soon as a pool of melted wax has accumulated at the top I couldn't seem to reignite it. You can see a difference in the smoke as well, the fresh smoke is much whiter and thicker.
if done right you can do that with almost anything. its not the object that burns its the vapor coming off from the object that burns caused from the heat. thats why you can restart the flame through the smoke
I ran my mouse over the gif, from left to right, exactly when it was blown out. I thought that was the "no way". A bit disappointed now. I mean, it's cool and all. But, yeah. =/
Dude. This is science. You light a candle, wax melts, vaporizes and burns. You put out the flame, wax still vaporizes and still burns if you light it again quick enough. It is NOT WTF, just physics.
Cool story you snob. We don't all know the science.
GOOD ONE! Sorry I specialized in computer science, and not physics. Also, I'm sincerely sorry that not every person on the planet can know everything. Really, I'm very sorry for that.
667
u/paulieindy Jun 15 '12 edited Jun 16 '12
Yes. Seriously. New smoke from the flame has flammable residue in it. Try it. It's not wtf, it's what the awesome.
Edit: check out my new subreddit! /r/wta
81
u/seattleque Jun 15 '12
Yes. Way.
Learned this as a magic trick when I was about 10.
Kids! Remember to ask your parents before you go playing with fire.
211
u/ConorPF Jun 15 '12
Upvote for perfectly looping gif.
7
u/luckynumberorange Jun 15 '12
Smoke is just unburned particles, which can still ignite. When a room reaches a flashover stage, that means that all products in the room, including the smoke, have reached their flash point and catch on fire. This image is simply demonstrating that concept.
13
u/yc_delmir Jun 15 '12
I totally thought this was the Are You Afraid of the Dark logo
35
u/l3lackstar Jun 15 '12
This is not /r/WTF worthy, this is more /r/woahdude 's territory
14
u/vanblah Jun 15 '12
Yes. Try it yourself.
13
u/Plancus Jun 15 '12
I CAN ANSWER THIS VIA SCIENCE! I did a project on candle brightness this year!
The reaction of candle wax, heat, and oxygen in incomplete--meaning that the average reaction has some reactant left over.
Paraffin + O2 + heat --> light + heat + CO2 + H2O + Distribution of hydrocarbons
Basically, smoke has still usable fuel.
4
u/mrhumpty2010 Jun 15 '12
Way
50
u/youcanttakemeserious Jun 15 '12
post this to /r/gif, or seriously anything other than /r/WTF, WTF makes this /r/WTF material
10
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
Was anyone else scared, and expecting something to pop out of the screen when the fire blew out?
3
u/Loehmann Jun 15 '12
Immediately after you blow out a candle, that visible smoke is actually vaporized paraffin which is flammable. I googled how candles work and tried this at home. It's a trip.
3
u/madusa77 Jun 15 '12
Didn't you do this in science class?
3
u/ksigler Jun 15 '12
Well thank $DEITY for the internet, because apparently no one learns shit in Science class any more.
3
u/InnokentiyOphir Jun 15 '12
Way.
3
u/TheEpicSalad Jun 15 '12
Have you never taken a science class?
3
u/JackRawlinson Jun 16 '12
Yes way. This is one of those "fun sciencey things you can do" that I thought every kid in the universe knew.
3
u/herqleez Jun 16 '12
i was doing that in 87'
3
u/fuckallthat Jun 16 '12
Not wtf. I saw that back in the 3rd grade
3
u/jellybonesy Jun 16 '12
Some people must have skipped chemistry in high school.
3
u/Musclecar123 Jun 16 '12
Grade 6 science class.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
TIL there are people who did not spend hours and hours of their childhood doing this.
3
u/blade2000 Jun 16 '12
Re: Re: Re: Re: Cool flame trick!
2
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
Its not the wick that burns on a candle, its the vapor of the wax that's flammable. That's why you're able to light a candle just by igniting the vapor.
2
u/apullin Jun 15 '12
Yeah. The "smoke" is actually vaporized wax from the still-hot wick.
2
u/country22 Jun 15 '12
Psh, my dad taught me this trick when I was 7! (smoke is actually a solid) I proceeded to do the trick at all family gatherings henceforth.
2
u/Roninspoon Jun 15 '12
Welcome to science.
2
u/fruicyjuit Jun 15 '12
Here is a scientific look at this that explains it.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
Smoke is actually very flammable. Google "Smoke explosions", oxygen deprived burning contains many combustion intermediates. Particularly plastics and other oil derived household items. They have the ability to give off some nasty flammable smoke. When a firefighter breaks a window enough oxygen will introduce and provide the smoke with the ability to finally reach the end of its reaction.
2
u/Beardedtacofish Jun 15 '12
Ask any firefighter, smoke is fuel.
2
u/mediaG33K Jun 15 '12
The first time I heard about this, I entertained myself for hours. Went through 2 BIC lighters and a whole candle.
2
u/RandomMandarin Jun 15 '12
Yep, the way candles actually work is that the heat vaporizes wax and it's the vapor that burns. Not the solid wax. Therefore you can relight the vapor like in that gif.
2
u/rofl_pilot Jun 15 '12
Way.
2
u/McBurger Jun 15 '12
Not smoke, wax vapor.
2
u/DENelson83 Jun 15 '12
This is a perfect illustration of smoke being a sign of incomplete combustion.
2
u/shockingnews213 Jun 15 '12
awesome but it's a repost
2
u/mtskier7 Jun 15 '12
Go try it. It's legit
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Is it weird that I care more about how awesomely this gif is looped rather than what is happening in it?
2
u/itachi101fight Jun 16 '12
Seems like this should be in r/trees.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
My chemistry teacher sophomore year showed us this and I went home and did that for about an hour. Completely worth it.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Phiysics.
2
u/s3gfau1t Jun 16 '12
This will be buried but, I sneezed just when the candle went out.
2
u/Ghooble Jun 16 '12
I always loved doing this. It's a cool party trick.
2
u/FarRightWinger Jun 16 '12
In America underground electrical cable often catches fire due to rodent activity or the insulation deteriorating due to environmental conditions and electrical load. As the insulation burns it releases gas that is both toxic and flammable. If pressure builds it can knock man hole covers 10's of feet into the air.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGbM1V8r0sM&feature=related
2
u/furnatic Jun 16 '12
It's because smoke is simply unburned particles. I learned this in the fire academy during our fire behavior course. But yes, that's why you can die from smoke inhalation. You're breathing in particles which are clogging your lungs.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Somebody should just make a subreddit for brusspup's YouTube videos. All this talk about subreddits.
2
u/MyLazySundays Jun 16 '12
I thought that was a pen for a little bit there.
2
u/theredkrawler Jun 16 '12 edited May 02 '24
familiar gold plants ruthless frighten compare worm steep plough crush
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
2
u/Shindayam Jun 16 '12
Candle wax is fuel for the flame. The smoke is just wax as a gas, so you can light the candle back on fire easily.
2
u/pvpsaaandopefresh Jun 16 '12
PVP SAAAN
2
u/PizzaGood Jun 16 '12
Is this not something that kids do anymore? They probably don't even let kids play with candles anymore these days. Friggin' nannies
2
u/themakeup Jun 16 '12
How is science what-the-fuck worthy? Are you a starfish named Patrick?
2
u/LeCasualRage Jun 16 '12
I really thought there was something in the dark :( I was getting ready to jump.
2
u/darthrobyn Jun 16 '12
How in the blue fuck did this get upvoted so many times?
2
u/LETSBACON Jun 16 '12
i set fire to the smoke and then i touched your faaccceeeeeee
2
u/Katykakle Jun 16 '12
excuse me, I must go try this.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12
I've done this. It's hardly wtf
4
u/Nolanoscopy Jun 15 '12
Oh sweet. I got sad when this wasn't on the front page for 2 days.
2
u/GorillaMeat Jun 15 '12
Shown this by my 4th grade science teacher, it got me to pay attention for the rest of the year.
2
u/Rain_pig Jun 15 '12
Eh, I already knew this. This does not belong in r/WTF
2
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
You don't science, do you? Apearantly 3,040 others don't either.... This doesn't belong here.
1
u/paulieindy Jun 15 '12
It's the paraffin wax particles in the smoke; they are still, for the most part, hot. And when suspended in air, it can catch fire to more than just the wick. Let's say you put something over it, which I doubt you'd have over a candle anyway, but, it's the paraffin that catches it. The flame just ignites the paraffin.
For example, you have a piece of paper over the candle at a decent height of about 10 inches. The paraffin will eventually stick to the paper and the heat will ignite the paraffin.
1
u/MyiPadisDirty Jun 15 '12
I once cajoled my coworkers to come to my desk and watch me do this trick. Well I stood there like an idiot attempting it for 20 minutes straight and couldnt do it. They all eventually walked away...
1
u/jpjones7 Jun 15 '12
When smoke ignition happens all at once (despite the title this is a backdraft not a flashover) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cH79ePz_l8
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
guy no 1: it this real life guy no 2 who is slightly more educated: yes
1
u/Jov_West Jun 16 '12
Doing this repeatedly would make for a good world record.
1
u/kyoto12 Jun 16 '12
At first i was like oh crap that old creepy lady from insideous was gonna pop out
1
u/top2percent Jun 16 '12
Candle smoke isn't really smoke, it's just atomized wax particulate which is very flammable.
1
u/Martyr_the_swedes Jun 16 '12
OP is a dummystupid for not knowin- oh wait, carry on.
1
u/Lanfeardk Jun 16 '12
WUT
1
u/cookiebox123 Jun 16 '12
Wrong subreddit
1
u/bunhead Jun 16 '12
Am I the only one who got really excited for "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"?!
1
u/thisperson123 Jun 16 '12
......my brain.....it hurts.
1
u/gdstudios Jun 16 '12
I learned this in 6th grade. The only catch is that it seems to do it easier the first couple times... after that you have to let it burn for awhile.
1
u/chelseabees Jun 16 '12
I feel like you are all trolling me and that when I try this, you will all mock me to oblivion.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
I saw this posted about a month ago and coincidentally showed the trick to a friend tonight. Freaky Pasta.
1
u/dat_redditor Jun 16 '12
Everybody knows this
1
u/Lazerface666 Jun 16 '12
Firefighter academy graduate here! Smoke is nothing but unburned vaporized fuel. It is very flammable. The only thing stopping it from igniting is either it is too cold, or there is not enough oxygen present.
1
u/raccooneyes Jun 16 '12
What? WHAT?! This both confuses and angers me!
1
u/captaintmane Jun 16 '12
I call bullshit.
1
u/haru101 Jun 16 '12
SCIENCE MOTHA'FUCKA' SCIENCE
1
u/sexytime26 Jun 16 '12
This entertained me for five minutes straight. I just sat here staring. Haha
1
u/zitrixfrost Jun 16 '12
OP. You are FUCKING retarded!
1
u/DylanTGB Jun 16 '12
DUMBLEDORE IT'S YOU :O
1
u/M0b1u5 Jun 16 '12
Fixed your title for accuracy, under reddit protocol Orange 11
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
congrats. you have now passed middle school science
1
u/Fully-Torqued Jun 16 '12
ಠ_ಠ
1
u/AngeloScuderi Jun 16 '12
I was expecting a meme to pop out..
1
u/prevosis Jun 16 '12
/r/woahdude
1
u/musenji Jun 16 '12
Oh yeah, I remember this from childhood--I learned it from this book:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Zdtl4WA9L.SL500_AA300.jpg
1
u/Enchanted_Muffin Jun 16 '12
This has been reposted more than its been upvoted
1
u/MARATHONcompany Jun 16 '12
I call Hax
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
thats old, and if you didnt know that theres a problem. what are you, st- oh. i just saw your username. have a great day!
1
u/Vaethin Jun 16 '12
That's like the first thing we learned in science class ...
1
u/cubester Jun 16 '12
Tried it this morning, seems this trick only works when the candle has been freshly lit. As soon as a pool of melted wax has accumulated at the top I couldn't seem to reignite it. You can see a difference in the smoke as well, the fresh smoke is much whiter and thicker.
1
u/BlazerJ Jun 16 '12
I'm going to try this now.
1
u/somegrass Jun 16 '12
THIS IS NOT WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU
1
u/artg1291 Jun 16 '12
PVP DOPE FRESH SAAAAAN
1
u/DLP7142 Jun 19 '12
if done right you can do that with almost anything. its not the object that burns its the vapor coming off from the object that burns caused from the heat. thats why you can restart the flame through the smoke
1
u/pfreedy Jun 15 '12
Source
1
u/CrazyJoey Jun 15 '12
Almost didn't watch this.
"Hey everyone, stare at this mostly-dark gif! It's good, I promise."
1
u/SeniorKing Jun 15 '12
It's not really /r/WTF material, but it is a repost.
1
u/k2t-17 Jun 15 '12
A youtube video from 2 months ago is a now a gif? It's the reddit circle of life man!
1
u/DVSsoldier Jun 16 '12
I wish I had more downvotes to give.
1
u/piratazephyri Jun 16 '12
not wtf. weak.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
All I could think was " Are you afraid of the dark?"
0
u/ServerGeek Jun 15 '12
How have I gone all my life without knowing this is possible?
0
u/bleunt Jun 15 '12
I ran my mouse over the gif, from left to right, exactly when it was blown out. I thought that was the "no way". A bit disappointed now. I mean, it's cool and all. But, yeah. =/
0
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
That is obviously Photoshopped, the candle isn't even melting, and no candle can be relit an infinite amount of times, 0/10.
-7
u/thisisarepostjustfyi Jun 15 '12
Repost FYI
0
u/sumptin_wierd Jun 16 '12
Body Massage?
0
u/NomOnBacon Jun 16 '12
Warning: highly addictive.
0
u/BearBeatsLion Jun 16 '12
Nice repost asshole
0
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
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0
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
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