Ollie Oxygen’s Candle Race

Objectives

To observe that fire needs oxygen to burn 

Materials

  •  Three votive candles that are the same size
  •  Large clear drinking glass (approximately sixteen ounces)
  •  Small clear drinking glass (eight ounce)
  •  Matches or lighter

Procedure

Light the candles and put the glasses over two of the candles simultaneously. Do not put a glass over the third candle. Watch to see which candle burns out first.

Conclusion

Fire needs oxygen to burn. The candle that has unlimited oxygen will burn for a long time. The candle in the smallest glass will go out before the candle in the large glass because there is less oxygen in the small glass.