Want to show off a neat trick at your next candlelit dinner? Here’s a fun candle trick that will amaze everyone. This guide will teach you how to light a candle without even touching the wick!
To perform this trick, you’ll need a candle, a wooden splint (like a long matchstick), and a little practice. The trick is all about lighting the candle in a special way that uses science to make it happen.
To really understand this trick, let’s look at what’s happening. A candle is made of solid wax, but when it burns, it melts into liquid wax. Around the flame, there’s a lot of wax vapor, which is actually what burns—not the wick itself.
When you blow out the flame, the wax vapor stays in the air for a short time. By bringing the lit splint close to the wick, you can ignite this vapor, making the flame travel back down to the wick and relight the candle.
For an extra challenge, try blowing out several candles and relighting them all at once. This not only shows off your skills but can also be a fun way to impress your friends during a dinner.
With this simple yet amazing candle trick, you’re sure to leave everyone in awe. Enjoy the magic of science and the cozy glow of candlelight!
Gather your materials: a candle, a wooden splint, and a lighter. Follow the step-by-step instructions to perform the candle trick. Pay close attention to how the flame jumps from the splint to the wick. Try to explain to your friends why this happens using the concept of wax vapor.
Conduct a simple experiment to observe wax vapor. Light a candle and let it burn for a few minutes. Blow it out and watch the smoke. Carefully bring a lit match close to the smoke and observe what happens. Write a short paragraph explaining the role of wax vapor in the candle trick.
Research and create a poster that explains the science behind the candle trick. Include diagrams showing how wax turns into vapor and how the flame travels. Present your poster to the class and explain the process in your own words.
In groups, set up a series of candles. Blow them out and see if you can relight them all using the candle trick. Time each group to see who can complete the challenge the fastest. Discuss what made the trick easier or harder to perform.
Use your knowledge of wax and candles to create a piece of art. Melt different colored waxes and pour them onto a canvas or paper to create a design. Write a short description of your artwork and how the properties of wax helped you create it.
Candle – A cylinder or block of wax with a central wick that is lit to produce light as it burns. – In our science experiment, we used a candle to observe how the flame melts the wax.
Wick – A strip of material inside a candle that is lit to produce a flame. – The wick of the candle draws up the melted wax, which fuels the flame.
Flame – The visible, gaseous part of a fire that emits light and heat. – When the match was struck, a small flame appeared, illuminating the dark room.
Wax – A solid substance that becomes liquid when heated, used in making candles. – As the candle burned, the wax melted and dripped down the sides.
Vapor – The gaseous form of a substance that is normally liquid or solid at room temperature. – When water boils, it turns into vapor, which we can see as steam.
Light – Electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by the human eye. – The light from the candle helped us see in the dark room during the power outage.
Splint – A small, thin piece of wood used in science experiments to test for gases. – We used a glowing splint to test for the presence of oxygen in the test tube.
Science – The study of the natural world through observation and experiment. – In science class, we learned about the different states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.
Burn – To undergo combustion, producing heat and light. – The wood began to burn, releasing heat and light as it turned to ash.
Liquid – A state of matter that has a definite volume but no fixed shape, flowing to fit the shape of its container. – Water is a liquid that takes the shape of any container it is poured into.