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From: randy@utcsri.UUCP (Randall S. Becker)
Newsgroups: net.sci,net.space
Subject: Re: Would a candle burn ...
Message-ID: <1273@utcsri.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 21-Jul-85 14:30:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsri.1273
Posted: Sun Jul 21 14:30:25 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 21-Jul-85 14:42:13 EDT
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Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
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> ... in space?
> 
> This question came up the other day in discussion.  We seemed to think
> that there would be problems because in the absence of a gravity field
> the heated air would not rise.  Thus CO2 would not be pulled away from
> the area of burning and O2 would not be pulled in.  Therefore
> combustion would not be continuous.

Actually, I would suspect that this would depend on the diffusion rate of
CO2 in the ambient atmosphere. If CO2 would diffuse at a high enough rate
then (assume the presence of O2) the candle should continue to burn at an
ever decreasing rate. 

Forgive me if this sounds rediculous. It's been a while since I've taken 
any chemistry.

Randy

-- 
		Randall S. Becker
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