Candle Flame and Spiral Experiment

In this activity, work in groups of fives or sixes to carry out the experiment on energy changes.

Aim: To observe a series of energy changes.

Materials you need:

• Spiral made from cardboard.
• String ( about 10cm long)
• Retort stand
• Candle
• Matches
• Scissors

Method and results:

(a)  Cut along the circular line drawn on the cardboard to make a spiral.

(b)  Tie one end of the string through the hole in the cardboard and the other end to the retort stand.

(c)  Place a candle below the spiral so that it is about 10cm above the candle (see figure below).

    

(d)  Light the candle and observe what happens to the spiral.

( Caution: Do not allow the spiral to touch the candle!)

What have you learnt from the experiment?

(a)  Explain what happened to the spiral ?

________________________________________________________

            ________________________________________________________

            ________________________________________________________

            ________________________________________________________

(b)  Trace the energy changes that caused the change in the spiral by  

       filling in the blanks below.

           

___________________ energy in _______________             _________________ and ___________________ energy in candle flame _______________ energy in the air  Kinetic energy in the _____________________ ________________ energy in the spiral.