Eli5 how come blowing on a flame sometimes puts it out and sometimes makes it stronger?

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Eli5 how come blowing on a flame sometimes puts it out and sometimes makes it stronger?

In: Physics

3 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Oxygen helps things burn, adding oxygen by blowing makes the fire stronger. But, if the airflow pulls too much heat away from whatever is burning the combustion stops.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Fire needs 3 things: fuel, heat, and oxygen. By blowing on a flame, you are increasing the airflow, thereby adding oxygen and removing any gasses created in the fire (like CO2 and water). But, if you blow too hard, you can remove the heat to a point where the fuel cannot burn any more.

Anonymous 0 Comments

It’s the added oxygen from blowing on it that makes the flame larger, it’s blowing on it too hard that puts it out.