A few safety rules before you begin: Do not let children perform experiments with candles on their own. Adult supervision is important not only for safety but also for shared exploration. When lighting candles, keep away any flammable or unnecessary materials. Tie back long hair, never leave burning candles unattended, and return matches to their place immediately after use.
Attach the candle to the bottom of the bowl using a small amount of plasticine. Fill the bowl with water, almost up to the top of the candle. Light the wick.
What’s happening here?
The candle continues to burn as usual until the flame reaches the water level. At that point, the flame begins to burn into the inside of the candle, forming a deep funnel with a thin wax wall.
This funnel shape prevents water from entering, allowing the candle to keep burning below the water’s surface.
The surrounding water absorbs some of the heat produced by the flame, cooling the outer layer of the wax so it does not reach the temperature needed to melt.
