Why does heat rise? Why does hot air move? This fun experiment allows children to feel science firsthand by observing heat and air currents. This experiment, which you can easily do at home or in the classroom with a candle and a small spiral of paper, is both instructive and fascinating!
🎯 What Will We Learn?
At the end of this experiment, the children; They will understand what thermal convection is in gases, how temperature changes the density of the air, where convection currents occur in daily life, and improve their observation and interpretation skills.
🛒 Required Materials
One or more candles, paper spiral (can be made from plain white paper or thin cardboard), skewer or stiff thin wire, needle or pin to fasten the spiral, palito or wooden support, play dough or wooden support, scissors, lighter or matches and ruler.
🔧 How Do We Set Up the Experiment?
Draw a spiral on a piece of paper, starting from the middle and getting bigger and bigger. Let the center be approximately 3 cm and the outer diameter be 10 cm. Carefully cut the spiral. Make a small hole in the middle and attach it to the end of the skewer so that it can rotate freely. Secure the skewer upright with play dough or a wooden support. Place the candle directly under the spiral. Remember to keep a distance of about 5 to 10 cm from the flame; This prevents the paper from catching fire.
🔬 We Do the Experiment
Carefully light the candle and observe the spiral for 1 to 2 minutes. During this process, pay attention to the following: Is the spiral starting to spin? Which direction does it rotate? After how many seconds does the movement start? Then extinguish the candle and observe whether the spiral stops. Finally, repeat the experiment using two candles and see if the movement accelerates.
💡 So Why Does This Happen?
When a candle burns, it heats the air around it. The heated air expands, its density decreases and it rises upwards. This rising air current hits the paper spiral and spins it. We call this phenomenon convection! Radiators, furnaces and even winds work on the same principle.
Safety Note: This experiment must be performed under adult supervision. The candle flame should be kept over an open-ended container and away from flammable materials.
