4B20.35 - Thermal Convection of a Gas - Paper Chimney

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.
Code Number:
4B20.35
Demo Title:
Thermal Convection of a Gas - Paper Chimney
Condition:
Good
Principle:
Thermal Convection
Area of Study:
Heat & Fluids

Disclaimer

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.

Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.