eli5 How exactly does a lighter produce flame?
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So a lighter is typically fueled by butane or propane. Both of those fuels are lighter cousins of gasoline. They very quickly evaporate at the typical range of temperatures you’d expect to experience. One button on the lighter opens a small valve. The pressure from the evaporated fluid forces a little bit of vapor out. Another button or a wheel of ferrocerium (similar to flint) produces a spark. That spark is hot enough to ignite the vapor. As the flame consumes the vapor from the cannister holding the fuel, it pulls more vapor into the flame, thus creating a stable flame.
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