Here's something I was discussing at a recent lecture I gave:
Question:
Why is the lower edge of the metal bar visible through the outer region of the flame, but not through the inner region?
Alan
Another flamin' puzzle
-
- BronzeLounger
- Posts: 1545
- Joined: 26 Jan 2010, 11:36
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Another flamin' puzzle
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
- gamma jay
- Posts: 25455
- Joined: 17 Mar 2010, 17:33
- Location: Cape Town
Re: Another flamin' puzzle
My guess without Googling is, its either the fact that the hotter inner portion emits too much light that obscures the matter behind it, or the fact that the inner portion contains a much more dense population of gas molecules that make up the actual flame.
Regards,
Rudi
If your absence does not affect them, your presence didn't matter.
Rudi
If your absence does not affect them, your presence didn't matter.
-
- BronzeLounger
- Posts: 1545
- Joined: 26 Jan 2010, 11:36
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Another flamin' puzzle
The first guess is interestingly close to the mark, and I hadn't thought of it in those terms. The density of the flame is probably near enough to uniform though. Certainly, the "hotter" reference is of great significance.Rudi wrote:My guess without Googling is, its either the fact that the hotter inner portion emits too much light that obscures the matter behind it, or the fact that the inner portion contains a much more dense population of gas molecules that make up the actual flame.
BTW, it's a tube - not a bar... before any pedant jumps in.
Alan
-
- gamma jay
- Posts: 25455
- Joined: 17 Mar 2010, 17:33
- Location: Cape Town
Re: Another flamin' puzzle
Interesting comment... I didn't realize this?AlanMiller wrote:...The density of the flame is probably near enough to uniform though...
I thought that the flame would be more dense in the middle!
So the only difference is heat?
Regards,
Rudi
If your absence does not affect them, your presence didn't matter.
Rudi
If your absence does not affect them, your presence didn't matter.
-
- BronzeLounger
- Posts: 1545
- Joined: 26 Jan 2010, 11:36
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Another flamin' puzzle
I can't be sure of the density comment. Point being that your comment about the hotter centre of the flame is of significance to the question.Rudi wrote:Interesting comment... I didn't realize this?AlanMiller wrote:...The density of the flame is probably near enough to uniform though...
I thought that the flame would be more dense in the middle!
So the only difference is heat?
Alan