Why Are Candle Flames Affected by Magnetic Fields?

TL;DR

Candle flames are repelled by magnetic fields due to several factors, including the diamagnetic properties of carbon in the flame and the hot air produced. The gas content, particularly carbon dioxide and possibly other gases, also contributes to the effect. Additionally, hot air is hypothesized to be more diamagnetic than cold air, further explaining the deflection observed.

Transcript

today on Applied Science we're going to take a tour of some unusual magnetic effects starting with this candle flame that's deflected by a magnetic field and ending with a hot Airstream that's even deflected by a magnetic field this journey begins in my last video where I was showing that a sodium flame units inside a magnetic field will control ho... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫢 Candle flames and smoke are repelled by magnetic fields, potentially due to the presence of diamagnetic carbon and the gas content in the flame.
• 🫥 The Zeeman effect, demonstrated using sodium metal, confirms the shifting of spectral absorption lines in the presence of a magnetic field.
• 👱 Hot air streams are deflected by magnetic fields, and it is theorized that hot air may have different magnetic properties than cold air.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the Zeeman effect and how was it demonstrated using sodium metal?

The Zeeman effect refers to the shifting of spectral absorption lines when a substance is placed in a magnetic field. In the video, sodium metal was sealed in a glass tube and exposed to a sodium lamp. The shifting of the absorption line confirmed the presence of the Zeeman effect.

Q: Why are candle flames and the smoke they produce repelled by magnetic fields?

The repulsion of candle flames and smoke is attributed to multiple factors. One theory suggests that the carbon in the flame is diamagnetic and is pushed away from the magnetic field. Another theory suggests that the gas content of the flame, such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, interacts with the magnetic field.

Q: How was it determined that hot air streams are deflected by magnetic fields?

Various experiments were conducted to demonstrate the deflection of hot air streams. Initially, a hot-air gun was used, but its speed hindered the observation. A powerful light bulb was then used to heat the air, and the resulting heated air stream was found to be deflected when subjected to a magnetic field.

Q: What are some proposed theories for the deflection of hot air by magnetic fields?

One theory suggests that hot air is more diamagnetic than cold air, possibly due to it being less dense and having different magnetic properties. The exact reason is not fully understood, but experiments involving an evacuated cylinder and an air-filled cylinder could provide further insights.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Zeeman effect, which involves the shifting of spectral absorption lines due to a magnetic field, is demonstrated using sodium metal in a sealed glass tube.

• Candle flames and the smoke they produce are also found to be repelled by magnetic fields, with theories suggesting the presence of diamagnetic carbon and gas content as contributing factors.

• Hot air streams are shown to be deflected by magnetic fields, with the theory proposed that hot air is more diamagnetic than cold air.