Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: taregg on 13/09/2013 22:32:10

Title: does candle light produce electromagnatic field....same as light bulb..?
Post by: taregg on 13/09/2013 22:32:10

same question.....

Title: Re: does candle light produce electromagnatic field....same as light bulb..?
Post by: evan_au on 14/09/2013 02:26:06

The spectrum of a candle is different from the "black body (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-body_radiation)" radiation of an incandescent light bulb.

The excited molecules which are formed in the flame of a candle have particular energy levels, which appears as a line spectrum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emission_spectrum#Radiation_from_molecules), in addition to the black-body radiation which comes from the heat of the flame.

Title: Re: does candle light produce electromagnatic field....same as light bulb..?
Post by: Pmb on 14/09/2013 08:01:07

Quote from: taregg on 13/09/2013 22:32:10

same question.....

Simply put, yes.

The chemical reactions in this reaction release energy in the form of photons which are electromagnetic waves in the light spectrum. Photons are merely particles of those waves/light. But they are still electromagnetic waves.

Title: Re: does candle light produce electromagnatic field....same as light bulb..?
Post by: Bored chemist on 14/09/2013 15:34:55

I just had a look at the spectrum of a candle flame and it's more or less a black-body continuum. The only line I could see was the sodium D line.
Most of the light must be coming from the hot soot in the flame.
A blowtorch flame's spectrum has lines and bands in it.

Title: Re: does candle light produce electromagnatic field....same as light bulb..?
Post by: distimpson on 15/09/2013 22:29:48

yes, what the other folks said. after reading this discussion had to try it too, attached is an image of a propane flame viewed with a diffraction grating. with a match there was a bit brighter area in the orange/yellow region (sodium line as mentioned?) but difficult to make out. I should mention, the black area in the first blue band is an artifact of the camera.

this site had a some info  on propane flame (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.physics.sjsu.edu%2Ftomley%2FObjectSpectra%2FRGB%2520Spectra%255Cpropane.jpg&hash=348f632c1e517ea775e34aadf0d71d47)

this site had some info on the chemical bonds involved (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldofmolecules.com%2Ffuels%2F350px-Spectrum_of_blue_flame.png&hash=dbbfc4f9fadf145db287f1d8bd519cd0)

interesting stuff.