What Is The Candle Trick Phenomenon?

What is the Candle Trick?

The candle trick is a classic magic trick where a lit candle seems to defy gravity. In the trick, a candle is lit and then the performer is able to tip the candle upside down so that the flame is pointing downwards, yet it does not go out. The flame remarkably stays lit and continues to burn, even though flames naturally burn upwards due to convection.

The key to the trick is that there is a hidden extra wick concealed in the melted wax of the candle. When the candle is tipped upside down, the visible wick blows out but the hidden wick is revealed and continues to burn. This gives the illusion that the original flame is still magically burning in a downward direction.

The candle trick impresses audiences by making them question what they know about the science of fire and how flames behave. The reveal that there is a hidden wick challenges assumptions about the candle. When performed smoothly, the effect looks impossible and leaves spectators puzzled.

History of the Candle Trick

The origins of the candle trick can be traced back to the vaudeville era in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Vaudeville was a popular form of entertainment that featured a variety of acts including comedy sketches, dance performances, and magic tricks. The candle trick became a staple illusion of many vaudeville magicians during this time.

One of the earliest documented performances of the candle trick was by magician William Robinson in the 1880s. Robinson would perform the trick by first showing the audience an unlit candle. He would then apparently light the candle with just his hands, amazing the audience. The trick became known as “Robinson’s Candle Feat” and he toured with it for many years.

As vaudeville grew in popularity in the early 1900s, more magicians incorporated the candle trick into their acts. Horace Goldin, another famous vaudeville magician, included an impressive performance of the candle trick in his shows. Like Robinson, he would show an unlit candle and then seem to magically light it with his bare hands to the astonishment of the audience.

While the origins of the actual method behind the candle trick illusion are unclear, it rose to prominence along with vaudeville acts in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The trick amazed audiences who had never seen such a feat before and helped establish many vaudeville magicians as legends of their craft.

How the Candle Trick Works

The candle trick phenomenon relies on basic principles of combustion and fire. At its core, fire needs three elements – fuel, heat, and oxygen. In the case of a candle, the wick and wax provide the fuel. The match or lighter provides the initial heat source to get the candle burning. And the oxygen comes from the air around the flame.

When you light the candle, the wick burns and melts the wax around it. This liquid wax is then drawn up the wick via capillary action. As the liquid wax reaches the flame, it vaporizes and mixes with oxygen to sustain the fire. This cycle of melting, capillary action, and vaporization keeps the candle burning.

When you place a glass over the flame, it seals off the supply of fresh oxygen to the fire. With limited oxygen, the candle cannot sustain the combustion reaction and is extinguished. However, there is still melted wax pooled around the wick and residual oxygen trapped under the glass.

When you remove the glass, fresh oxygen rushes back in and re-ignites the wick. The flame flares back up using the remaining melted wax and oxygen under the glass. This gives the illusion that the extinguished candle has magically re-lit itself.

The candle trick demonstrates that fire needs a constant supply of oxygen. Cut off that supply, even briefly, and the flame goes out. Restore the oxygen, and the fire springs back to life.

Variations of the Candle Trick

The basic candle trick involves lighting a candle, covering it with a glass, and then putting out the flame by depriving it of oxygen. However, this trick can be performed with a variety of objects besides candles. Some common variations include:

Using a match or toothpick instead of a candle. The principle remains the same, but matches and toothpicks are smaller and easier to extinguish under a glass.

Performing the trick with a larger flame source like a Bunsen burner, alcohol burner, or small torch. These flames can be impressive but take more effort to safely extinguish.

Substituting the glass for other containers like bottles, jars, bowls, or Tupperware. The key is using a vessel that seals off access to oxygen. Glassware works well but many containers can suffice.

Trying different materials and objects that can be extinguished like incense sticks, sparklers, or strips of burning paper. The ease of extinguishing depends on the size and intensity of the flame.

Experimenting with wetting the rims of containers with water or glycerin to create a tighter seal when placed over a flame. This reduction in airflow can make the flame go out faster.

The core concept remains removing oxygen from fire to extinguish it. But part of the fun is trying new materials and objects to see the results. The candle trick has many creative variations waiting to be explored.

Candle Trick Demonstrations

The candle trick has been demonstrated by magicians, scientists, and educators in many famous instances. With the rise of video sharing platforms in the 2000s, the candle trick has gone viral in numerous online videos.

In 2008, the TV show Brainiac featured presenter Emily Hartridge performing the candle trick. The video shows Emily lighting a candle then putting a glass jar over the flame, causing the candle to be extinguished. She then tilts the jar, allowing oxygen to enter again and relight the candle, to the amazement of the audience.

Bill Nye the Science Guy demonstrated the candle trick on his popular educational TV show in 1996. Using an upside-down funnel over the candle, Bill Nye explained how the limited oxygen supply put out the flame. When air was let in again, the flame reignited. This visual helped teach science concepts to young viewers.

Another viral demo comes from chemistry teacher Nick Anderson in 2013. His YouTube video “A Candle’s Fiery Tale” artistically depicts the candle trick using stop-motion animation and lively narration. The creative video brought educational enlightenment to over 1 million viewers.

These engaging demonstrations helped showcase the candle trick to mainstream audiences. Seeing the simple experiment done by trusted personalities made the phenomenon more accessible and fun for the general public.

Performing the Candle Trick

The candle trick is a classic magic trick that anyone can learn to perform. Here are some tips for successfully pulling off this trick yourself:

Supplies Needed

To perform the candle trick, you’ll need:

• A candle
• A lighter or matches
• A penny or small coin

Set Up

Grab a candle and set it on a flat surface where you’ll be performing the trick. Make sure the surface is heatproof. Have your lighter or matches and penny ready nearby.

Lighting the Candle

Light the candle so it is burning steadily with a flame about 1-2 inches high. Allow the candle to burn for at least 30 seconds before proceeding so it is well lit.

Performing the Trick

Once the candle is lit, place the penny about 2-4 inches above the flame. Hold the penny there horizontally without touching the flame.

Keep your hand very steady. After around 5-10 seconds, the flame will go out on its own, seeming to “jump” onto the penny. The flame dissipates shortly after.

Tips

– Move slowly and smoothly when lowering the penny toward the flame. Any abrupt motions may put out the flame prematurely.

– Position the penny at just the right distance above the flame – too high and it won’t work, too low and you’ll put out the flame with the penny itself.

– Practice the trick a few times to get the timing and technique right before performing for others.

– Explain to the audience that they should remain totally quiet and still during the trick.

With a steady hand and proper technique, you can mystify and delight audiences with this classic candle trick!

Science of Fire and Combustion

The candle trick is based on some key scientific principles related to fire and combustion. At its core, fire is a chemical reaction called combustion, which occurs when a fuel source reacts with oxygen in the presence of heat and ignition. For a candle, the wax is the fuel source. When lit, the wick provides the ignition source which raises the temperature of the wax high enough so it vaporizes into a gas that can mix with oxygen.

When these hot wax vapors mix with oxygen in the air, combustion occurs, generating heat, light, and producing byproducts like water vapor and carbon dioxide. This exothermic reaction sustains itself as long as there is wax to vaporize and oxygen to react with. Blowing out a candle removes oxygen from the flame, stopping combustion. However, there is still residual heat and wax vapor close to the wick that can re-ignite with a new oxygen source, which is the key to the candle trick.

When you cover a recently extinguished candle with an inverted glass, oxygen gets trapped. The remaining heat and wax vapor interact with this oxygen, restarting the flame. Timing is critical to trap enough heat and fuel vapor to create combustion once again when exposed to the glass-enclosed oxygen. This clever trick thereby demonstrates in a simple way how the complex chemical process of combustion requires the right mix of fuel, oxygen, heat and ignition to sustain a flame.

Educational Uses

The candle trick can be used to teach and demonstrate important scientific concepts related to fire and combustion in an engaging hands-on way. Educators often use it when teaching about:

• States of matter – The candle trick visually shows the solid wax melting into a liquid state as the candle burns.
• Phase changes – Students can observe how heating the solid wax causes it to melt into liquid wax first, before vaporizing into a gaseous fuel for the flame.
• Flammability and combustion – Wax is flammable when melted and the wick draws up the liquid fuel to the flame. Students learn how fire needs fuel, heat, and oxygen.
• Conservation of mass – The melting candle demonstrates how matter changes form but the total mass remains constant.
• Conduction, convection, and radiation – Heating wax to light the candle involves all three heat transfer methods.
• Capillary action – How wax gets drawn up the wick via capillary action.
• Oxidation reactions – Burning wax is an oxidation reaction producing water vapor and carbon dioxide.

With educator guidance, observing and attempting the candle trick gives students an engaging view into states of matter, phase changes, combustion, and heat transfer concepts.

Pop Culture References

The candle trick has appeared in various forms of media and entertainment over the years. Some notable examples include:

Films – The candle trick is featured in the 1990 comedy Home Alone during a scene where Kevin McCallister (played by Macaulay Culkin) practices magic tricks alone in his house. He attempts the trick but fails to blow out the candle initially.

TV Shows – In a 1991 episode of The Simpsons titled “Three Men and a Comic Book”, Bart Simpson tries to perform the candle trick for his friends but cannot get it to work, resulting in humorous failure.

Books – The candle trick is described in the popular Magic Tree House children’s book series. In the 1997 book Summer of the Sea Serpent, Jack performs the trick during a magic show.

Live Performances – Many famous magicians and entertainers have incorporated the candle trick into their acts and routines over the years, including David Copperfield and David Blaine. It is a popular trick to perform live.

Online Videos – There are numerous video demonstrations of the candle trick on YouTube and other platforms by both amateur magicians and more experienced performers showcasing their skills.

Impact and Significance

The candle trick phenomenon has had a significant cultural impact and holds an important place in entertainment history. Though a seemingly simple bar trick, it exemplifies some powerful scientific principles related to combustion and fire. The visual drama and mystique of the candle trick have embedded it deeply into pop culture and performance art.

Seeing a lit candle seemingly be extinguished only to reignite moments later provokes a sense of wonder and impossibility. This immediately engages audiences and prompts curiosity to understand the hidden mechanics behind the illusion. When properly performed, the candle trick suggests the performer has command over fire itself.

The trick demonstrates in clear fashion that fire requires fuel, heat, and oxygen to sustain itself. Removing any of those key elements even briefly causes the flame to go out, only to return when equilibrium is restored. This revelation of the science of combustion is at the heart of what gives the candle trick educational and entertainment value.

As a staple of magicians and entertainers for over a century, the candle trick has cemented itself as a quintessential feat of illusion. It exemplifies how science applied cleverly can create convincing magic. The trick’s longevity and iconic status are a testament to its underlying elegance and ability to bring intrigue and theatricality to even the simplest of objects – a burning candle.