Sisyphus Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 Ok, so I was at a bar last night where, on the tables, there were little "lamps" that consisted of a plastic jar of oil with a cloth wick and flame, inside a glass vase. I noticed that when I tapped the table anywhere, the flame would flare for a split second (so quick its not even noticable unless you're paying attention), practically doubling in size. It wasn't a gust of air, since waving my hand at it, changing the place where I tap the table, or taking the jar out of the vase had not effect. I tried the same thing with a butane lighter and a propped up match, and nothing happened in either case. This leads me to believe that it had something to do with the wick, but I can't figure it out. The way I see it, the transverse wave from the impact with the table hits the vase and converts to a compressive wave which somehow travels through the oil in the wick to erupt at the top. What I can't figure out is why it didn't work with the lighter. Is it that fluids saturating a solid have greater elasticity than fluids on their own? Your thoughts would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insane_alien Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 it knocks a layer off the wick(albeit very thin layer) that is in powder form. there is a little bit of fuel left and the surface area has increased so you will get the lare from a temporarily increased burn rate. it doesn't work for the lighter since the fuel is alreasy as dispersed as it can be and still burn. also no wick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha-137 Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 I would say that the taping set up a vibration / shockwave that travels through the oil much better than the wooden mach or butane lighter. Much the same as sonar waves through water, and are a little amplified as it gets to the heated up oil at the tip the same as the sonar waves are a little amplified in warmer thermal layers of water. Alpha-137:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha-137 Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Try this experiment! This is an example of Mass in its height’s energy levels, [in the act of burning / or changing mass into Heat & Light energy.] [A picture of the candle goes here.] The flame of this candle is an area of high energy and in this state that area has the ability to accelerate sound waves [Vibrations of air molecules.] As this wave of air molecules hits one side of the flame some of the air molecules are used as fuel in the flame but enough are heat expanded [Put in a higher energy state.] and accelerated [ Accelerated mass has more force.] through the High Energy Area to slam into the air on the other side at an Higher Energy Level and an accelerated force, thus amplifying the sound wave. Alpha-137:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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