urban myth freeze candles last longer

urban myth freeze candles last longer

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BULLSEYE BILL. 04-01-2005, 09:09 PM. I have heard that freezing a candle before burning makes it last longer. Is this a wives tale?

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BULLSEYE BILL

04-01-2005, 09:09 PM

I have heard that freezing a candle before burning makes it last longer.

Is this a wives tale?

Jim Fischer

04-01-2005, 10:52 PM

Well, it clearly would be true that a candle
fresh from the deep freeze would need to thaw
out before any wax melted, thus slowing the
initial burn rate a tiny, tiny bit... smile.gif

But let's get real - the delta between freezer
temp (let's say 30F) and room temp (70F) is
negligible (40F) as compared to the combustion
temperature of a candle flame (1500F-1600F),
so it really does not matter if the candle
starts out at 30F or 70F, except that lighting the
candle may be made slightly more difficult by
the frozen state of the wax, and the lack of any
serious "wicking" action.

One thing that CAN happen is that the candle
can freeze unevenly, and crack in the freezer.
That would be a bummer, wouldn't it?

...and don't get me started about people who
claim that they can make a better popover
by placing the batter-filled pan in a COLD
oven, rather than a pre-heated one... smile.gif

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Is Hell Exothermic or Endothermic?

As you study for exams, remember its not the quantity it's the quantity. And remember there is no substitute for pure unadulterated bull

---

Dr. Schambaugh, of the University of Oklahoma School of Chemical Engineering, Final Exam question for May of 1997. Dr. Schambaugh is known for asking questions such as, "why do airplanes fly?" on his final exams. His one and only final exam question in May 1997 for his Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer II class was: "Is hell exothermic or endothermic? Support your answer with proof."

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law or some variant. One student, however, wrote the following:

"First, We postulate that if souls exist, then they must have some mass. If they do, then a mole of souls can also have a mass. So, at what rate are souls moving into hell and at what rate are souls leaving? I think we can safely assume that once a soul gets to hell, it will not leave.
Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for souls entering hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, then you will go to hell. Since there are more than one of these religions and people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all people and souls go to hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in hell to increase exponentially.
Now, we look at the rate of change in volume in hell. Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in hell to stay the same, the ratio of the mass of souls and volume needs to stay constant. Two options exist:

1. If hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter hell, then the temperature and pressure in hell will increase until all hell breaks loose.
2. If hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until hell freezes over.

So which is it? If we accept the quote given to me by Theresa Manyan during Freshman year, "that it will be a cold night in hell before I sleep with you" and take into account the fact that I still have NOT succeeded in having sexual relations with her, then Option 2 cannot be true...Thus, hell is exothermic."

The student, Tim Graham, got the only A.

See Also: Thermodynamics Exam