What is the fastest way to get water into a bottle? Inge and Magne experiment with candles and water in today's episode.
You need:
- Some cake candles
- A deep dish or glass bowl
- Empty plastic bottles
- Lighter or matches
- Water
Recipe:
1. Place the candle in the middle of the plate or bowl (use some playdough to help it stand upright if it can’t stand by itself)
2. Pour water into the plate (until you hit the water)
3. Light the candle with a lighter or match
4. Turn the bottle upside down and place it over the candle
What happens next is that the water begins to enter the bottle, at the same time that the flame of the candle decreases, until it is totally extinguished. When this happens, the water stops rising in the bottle.
A new variant:
Empty 3-4 ml of methanol into the empty plastic bottle, allow it to evaporate, before placing the bottle over the candle. Then you get a huge reaction, when the methanol vapor is ignited by the candle flame, and the water squirts in with an enormous force! Much more than on the first try.
NB! Experiments must always follow the safety rules that apply to laboratory experiments.