Paraffin motor
Channel: MEL Chemistry
Date: 2020-03-29

How to make a motor with a candle.

Equipment: candle, needles, glasses, tray, lighter.

Find the candle's center of mass, by balancing it on your finger, and then stick needles in both sides of the center point. Balance the candle between two glasses using the needles and light the candle at both ends. Watch as the motor begins!

When the wick burns, the candle's center of mass shifts constantly, and when a drop of paraffin falls from one end (A), its mass decreases and the other end (B) is then heavier. The flame at this end (B) then warms a bigger part of the candle and paraffin drips more intensively out of it. At some point, side A begins to outweigh side B and goes down. The oscillation amplitude of the paraffin motor increases gradually.

Amazing experiments are waiting for you in your MEL Chemistry subscription!

Warning! Only under adult supervision