How Long Will A Crayon Burn Like A Candle?
The purpose of this article is to explore how long a crayon will burn if lit like a candle. Many people likely remember using crayons for coloring and drawing as a child, but may not have considered their fiery properties. This article will overview a simple experiment measuring how long a crayon can burn when its tip is lit with a match. We will discuss factors like crayon composition, size, and shape that may impact burn time. Through a straightforward experiment, we can gain insight into an unexpected use of an iconic children’s product.
Background on Crayons
Crayons date back to the early 19th century, with rudimentary versions appearing even earlier. Crayons were originally made with charcoal sticks or pieces of chalk. In the late 1800s, paraffin wax started being used as the primary material for crayon manufacturing. According to How crayon is made – material, manufacture, used, product .., paraffin was produced commercially by 1867, and crayons appeared around this time using paraffin wax, pigments, and other fillers.
Before paraffin, other materials were experimented with for crayon manufacturing, like animal fats mixed with pigments. According to History of Crayons for Drawing, one of the first commercially successful crayon makers, Joseph Dixon, used a mix of lampblack, sulfur, and animal fats to create usable crayons in the 1860s. Paraffin wax ultimately became the standard due to its hardiness and ability to be pigmented easily.
Early crayon colors were mostly limited to charcoal black, red, and brown. Pigment availability expanded the color palette rapidly in the late 1800s once large-scale crayon manufacturing picked up. Wax crayons also proved superior in strength, durability, and color vibrancy compared to earlier crayon incarnations.
Candle Science
Candles work by capillary action, where the wax is drawn up the wick by capillary action. The wax is then vaporized by the flame, releasing energy as light and heat. The most common materials used to make candles are paraffin wax, beeswax, soy wax, palm wax, and gel wax.
Some key factors that affect candle burn time include the size of the wick, which controls how quickly the fuel is consumed. Larger wicks burn faster. The composition of the wax also impacts burn time, with different waxes having different melting points and burn rates. Beeswax, for example, is denser than paraffin so it burns more slowly. Lastly, airflow can impact burn time if it causes the flame to flutter instead of burn steadily.
Key Factors in Burn Time
When considering the burn time of a crayon, some key factors to consider are its composition, the availability of oxygen, and the wick. Crayons are made from a mixture of paraffin wax, stearic acid, and pigments.1 The type of wax and additives used affect how quickly the crayon burns. Beeswax, for example, burns slower than paraffin wax. Candle wax also varies in burn time depending on composition. Additives like vybar and palm wax help the wax burn slower and more evenly.2
Oxygen availability is another critical factor, as a sustained flame requires oxygen. Burning a crayon in an open, ventilated space provides more oxygen and a faster burn time versus an enclosed space. The wick transports melted wax via capillary action and helps regulate the flame. Thicker wicks tend to burn faster, while tighter braided wicks can help extend burn time.3 Considering the composition and wick of a crayon versus a standard candle provides insights into the expected burn time.
The Experiment
To test how long a crayon burns, the following materials are needed:
- Crayons of various colors and brands
- A candle and holder
- A lighter or matches
- A timer
- Tongs or pliers to hold the crayon
The procedure is as follows:
- Start by measuring and recording the initial length of the crayon.
- Use tongs or pliers to hold the crayon tip at the top of the candle flame until it ignites.
- Start the timer as soon as the crayon ignites.
- Allow the crayon to burn like a candle, holding it vertically above the candle flame.
- Stop the timer when the crayon can no longer sustain a flame.
- Record the time elapsed and measure how much of the crayon burned away.
The variables that should be controlled include:
- Using crayons of the same brand and type
- Starting with crayons of approximately equal original length
- Holding the crayon at the same angle and distance above the candle
- Using the same type of candle for each test
Burn Time Results
The experiment found that the average crayon burned for approximately 15-20 minutes before being completely consumed. This is significantly shorter than the average burn time for a standard candle. According to sources, the average candle burn time when the wick is kept trimmed to 1/4″ is 55-75 hours [1]. Thus, a candle lasts for 180-300 times longer than a crayon when burned. The drastically shorter burn time for crayons is likely due to their smaller size and composition of wax, pigments and binders as compared to candles, which are made purely of wax.
While candles are designed to burn slowly and evenly for light, crayons are not optimized for use as fuel. The experiment shows that the crayon as a candle substitute has an extremely limited lifespan. Still, it demonstrates that crayons contain enough wax and combustible material to sustain a flame, if only briefly.
Analysis
The results of the experiment showed that the crayon burned for approximately 15 minutes before being completely consumed. There are several factors that likely contributed to this burn time:
The size and shape of the crayon affects how quickly it burns. The crayon used in this experiment was a standard stick crayon, which has a relatively small surface area exposed to oxygen. Crayons with larger surface areas may burn faster.
The composition of the crayon wax impacts burn time. Crayons are typically made from paraffin wax, which melts at low temperatures. If a different type of wax was used, such as beeswax, the crayon may have burned slower or faster.
The wick also plays a key role. Crayons do not have an embedded wick like candles, so the crayon wax itself acts as the wick as it melts. A larger or smaller wick could change the rate of burning.
Environmental factors like temperature and airflow can accelerate or slow down burning. The crayon was burned indoors at room temperature with normal airflow. Higher temperatures or more airflow could make the crayon burn faster.
The way the crayon is held and positioned impacts how quickly the melted wax can rise through the crayon via capillary action. If the crayon is held vertically, the wax may travel faster compared to a horizontal position.
Overall, the results indicate that a crayon can burn steadily for a short period of time, similar to a small candle. The size, composition and wicking of the crayon appear to be the primary determinants of the burn time.
Other Experiments
Here are some ideas for additional experiments related to burning crayons:
Test how different crayon brands and types burn. Do specialty crayons like glitter or scented crayons burn differently than regular crayons? How about different shapes like thin vs thick crayons? According to an experiment from Creative Family Fun, crayon shape impacts melt time.
Try melting crayons in different ways, like using a hair dryer as described in this Education.com experiment. Do crayons melt faster under direct heat versus ambient heat like sunlight?
Combine crayon burning with art by melting crayons on canvas or paper to create abstract artworks. How do different paper and canvas types impact the melted crayon designs?
Test how water impacts burning crayons. Does the crayon burn faster or slower when water is added periodically? Does this make the melted crayon wax spread out more?
See how different materials like foil or glass impact how crayons burn. Do crayons burn longer on heat conductive surfaces?
These types of additional experiments can provide more data on what factors make crayons burn faster or slower as candles. The results can then be compared to the original crayon burning experiment.
Conclusions
In summary, this experiment found that a standard Crayola crayon will burn for approximately 30-60 minutes when lit like a candle. The length of burn time depends on factors like the size and shape of the crayon, as well as wick placement. Smaller, narrow crayons with centered wicks tended to burn the longest in testing. The experiment results showed crayons can be surprisingly effective improvised candles. While brief, the light from a burning crayon can provide illumination in an emergency situation. This experiment demonstrates the unexpected utility found in ordinary household objects. Further testing could examine burn times for crayons of different sizes and from other brands. Overall, this project provided enlightening information about an unconventional use of crayons.
References
List sources…
