2 ply napkins
2 ply napkins on fire
cylinder of ash

 

Code Number: 4B20.35

Demo Title: Thermal Convection of a Gas - Paper Chimney

Condition: Good

Principle: Thermal Convection

Area of Study: Thermodynamics

Equipment: 

2 - ply napkins, grill lighter, glass plate.

Procedure:

NOTE:  This demo works ONLY if you schedule to have the air handlers for the lecture room turned off.  Any air currents in the room will result in demo failure. 

Take the 2 ply napkins and split them to a single ply.  Roll the single ply into a tube with a 4 cm diameter.  Two small pieces of tape can be used to hold the cylinder together.  Set the cylinder up on the glass plate and light the top with the grill lighter.  Allow the cylinder to burn downward and as the flame reaches the very bottom the whole cylinder of ash should rise into the air on the thermal convection current.

References:

  • "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 40, # 9, Dec. 2002, p. 548.
  • Andrew De Pino, Jr., "Another Slow Burn", TPT, Vol. 35, # 5, May 1997, p. 261.
  • Ronald D. Edge, "The Ethnic Rocket", TPT, Vol. 35, # 2, p. 110, Feb. 1997.
  • Anderson Coser Gaudio and Laercio Ferracioli,  "The 'Folk' Balloon",  String & Sticky Tape Experiments, TPT, Vol. 33, # 9, p.  582, Dec. 1995.
  • Tik L. Liem, "The Mysteriously Rising Napkin", Invitations to Science Inquiry, Second Edition, p. 208
  • Denis Burchill, "The Flight Of The Humble Tea Bag", Physics Education, Vol. 39, # 1, Jan. 2004, p. 22.
  • Jia You, "Turn a Tea Bag into a Lantern", Popular Science, May 2014.
  • Vicki Cobb and Kathy Darling, "The Burning Question", Bet You Can!, p. 76.
  • Vicki Cobb and Kathy Darling, "Ashes, Ashes, We Don't Fall Down", Bet You Can!, p. 31.
  • Janice VanCleave, "25, Smoking Chimney", Teaching the Fun of Physics, p. 41.
  • H.J. Press,  "Hot-Air Balloon",  Giant Book of Science Experiments, p. 90.
  • William Gurstelle,  "Building the Cincinnati Fire Kite",  Backyard Ballistics, p. 50.
4B20.35 - Thermal Convection of a Gas - Paper Chimney