Science Fair ProjectThe Affect of Color on the Burning Rate of Candles

Olivia Alston

Statement of the Problem

The problem that I am testing is weather colored candles burn/melt more quickly than plain candles or if they melt more slowly than plain candles.

Project Overview

My project was to burn colored candles and plain candles to see which burned faster. I

burned red candles and plain(white) candles to see which ones burned(melted) faster.

Research White, or plain, candles should burn more quickly than colored candles. This should happen because there are more chemicals in the colored candles,

therefore, there is more to burn. There are more chemicals in colored candles because there is dye in them to

make them a different color.

Variables

Independent variable: My independent variable was the color of the candles. Dependent variable: My dependent variable was how much the candle melted in the

amount of time it was lit. Constant variables: My constant variables were the amount of time given, the length

of candle, the mass of the candle, and the weight of the candle. Control group: The control group is the plain candles. This makes the results logical

because it is plain and it has no coloring to affect the burning.

 

Hypothesis

My hypothesis is that the colored(red) candles will burn more slowly than the plain(white)

candles.

Materials Three red candles Three plain(white) candles One timer Six candle stick holders

Procedure

1. Place candles in candle stick holders.

2. Set timer.

3. Light candles when timer starts.

4. Blow out candles when timer stops.

5. Measure difference in height of candle.

6. Repeat steps one through five for each trial.

Photos

Data/Observations (Analysis)

Trial Red Candles White Candles

Trail One 26.1cm 26.5cm

Trial Two 26.2cm 26.7cm

Trial Three 26.7cm 26.7cm

The candles were burned for thirty minutes. The average of the white candles height after being burned was higher than the red

ones, stating that colored candles burn faster than plain ones. The white average was higher by three millimeters.

Conclusion

My data did not support my hypothesis because the colored candles burned(melted) more. I think that they might have burned(melted)

more because the chemicals helped it burn(melt).

Possible Experimental Errors

I don’t think I had any experimental errors.

Applications and Recommendations

To improve this experiment you could: Use more than one different colored candle.

Do more than three trials. Burn the candles for a longer amount of time.

Test different brands of candles. You could apply this to your everyday life because you could know what type of candle to

get(plain) if you want it to burn longer.

Works Cited

Agadoni, Laura. "Do White Candles Burn at a Different Rate than Colored Candles? | Answerbag." Answerbag.com | Ask Questions, Get Answers, Find Information. 25 May

2010. Web. 14 Dec. 2010. <http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/2094413>. "Do White Candles Burn At A Different Rate Than Colored Candles?" Ask Questions,

Get Free Answers - Blurtit. 2008. Web. 14 Dec. 2010. <http://www.blurtit.com/q590643.html>.

Johnsen, Ken. "Re: Do Wax Candles Burn at Different Rates Because of Dyes?" MadSciNet: The 24-hour Exploding Laboratory. 1998. Web. 14 Dec. 2010.

<http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1998-03/891037298.Ch.r.html>. Sherman, Bob. "Candle Making Science Projects." Candle Making Supplies At One Stop

Candle Home Page. 2009. Web. 14 Dec. 2010. <http://www.onestopcandle.com/candle/canscience.php>.