Types of Flames I

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

Q:
Why do we see blue or orange when the actual colour of the flame is green?
- PangJiingHuey (age 13)
Anglican High, Singapore
A:
Pang -

Some flames have a blue part (the ’non-luminous’ part) and a yellow or orange part (the ’luminous’ part). This does not mean that the flame is actually green. A better way to think about it is to imagine that there are two different flames burning in the same place. If the flame appears green in spots, it’s probably because you’re seeing some yellow flame in front of (or behind) some blue flame and the colors look mixed together.

-Tamara

(published on 10/22/2007)