Do candles burn for longer in hot or cold conditions?
Here we shine a light on whether the temperature of a candle and the surrounding environment affects how long it will burn.
Asked by: Anonymous
A candle works by using heat initially provided by, say a match, to melt wax, which rises up the central wick to keep the flame alight. If a candle is cold, it will take somewhat longer for heat to percolate down into the body of the candle and warm the wax to its melting point. But the effect on the lifetime of a candle won’t be dramatic.
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Authors
Robert is a science writer and visiting professor of science at Aston University. He likes maths, West End musicals and hamsters.
