Plexiglas tube
Fischer burner and confetti.
Set up for Convection Chimney with Confetti demo

 

Code Number: 4B20.30

Demo Title: Thermal Convection of a Gas - Convection Chimney with Confetti

Condition: Good

Principle: Thermal Convection

Area of Study: Thermodynamics

Equipment: 

Plexiglas tube, metal stand, Fischer burner, grill lighter, confetti.

Procedure:

Place the Plexiglas tube into the metal stand.  Insert the Fischer burner into the opening in the metal stand and center.  Light the burner and throw some confetti into the lower end of the tube.  The confetti will rise in the tube and eventually come out the top and fall like snow over the table that the tube is placed on. 

NOTE:  The confetti will not catch on fire.  It will rise above the flame and out of the heat before it can do so.

References:

  • Janice VanCleave, "25, Smoking Chimney", Teaching the Fun of Physics, p. 41.
  • Julien Clinton Sprott, Physics Demonstrations,  "2.13, Heat Convection",  p. 98, ISBN 0-299-21580-6.
  • Charles Vivian, "The Candle at the Door", Science Experiments & Amusements For Children, p. 16.
  • Charles Vivian, "Make Smoke Obey", Science Experiments & Amusements For Children, p. 10.
  • Curt Suplee, "Heat and weather", Everyday Science Explained, National Geographic, p. 70.
  • John Henry Pepper, Henry George Hine, "The Convection of Heat", The boy's playbook of science, p. 383.