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Fire Ball

Short answer: On Earth, hot gases rise and draw in fresh air, giving flames their familiar teardrop shape. In microgravity there is no buoyant convection, so oxygen reaches the flame only by diffusion and the flame spreads equally in all directions, forming a sphere that is often dimmer and bluer.

The footage, credited to galaxies, shows combustion experiments in orbit.

VideoWrite-up1 sources
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What should you know about Fire Ball?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Teardrop flames.

    DD-499-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Earth)

  2. Hot air rises.

    DD-499-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Cause)

Video transcript: Fire Ball: In Space, a Candle Flame Becomes a Dim Blue Sphere

[...] of gravity [...] familiar teardrop [...] conditions hot air [...] and giving flames [...] there is no [...] in all directions [...] Without gravity [...] leading to [...] process. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 26.9s Reel ·

Video coming soonFire Ball · Instagram Reel
Fire Ball: In Space, a Candle Flame Becomes a Dim Blue Sphere Instagram Reel · · 26.9s

The write-up

In space, a candle flame becomes a dim blue sphere. Without gravity, hot air does not rise.

  1. Exhibit A

    Earth

    Teardrop flames.

  2. Exhibit B

    Cause

    Hot air rises.

  3. Exhibit C

    Space

    No convection.

  4. Exhibit D

    Shape

    Sphere.

  5. Exhibit E

    Oxygen

    Diffusion.

Questions people ask about Fire Ball

Flame shape in space?

Round.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Earth) · Wikipedia: Microgravity

Why teardrop on Earth?

Convection.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Cause) · Wikipedia: Microgravity

Oxygen arrives by?

Slow.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Space) · Wikipedia: Microgravity

Missing in space?

Gravity.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Shape) · Wikipedia: Microgravity

Color often?

Dim.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Oxygen) · Wikipedia: Microgravity

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. Flame shape in space?

    1. Sphere
    2. Teardrop
    3. Square
    4. Line
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Sphere Round. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Earth) · Wikipedia: Microgravity

  2. Why teardrop on Earth?

    1. Hot air rises
    2. Magnetism
    3. Wind only
    4. Color
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Hot air rises Convection. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Cause) · Wikipedia: Microgravity

  3. Oxygen arrives by?

    1. Diffusion
    2. Fans
    3. Rockets
    4. Pipes
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Diffusion Slow. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Space) · Wikipedia: Microgravity

  4. Missing in space?

    1. Buoyant convection
    2. Light
    3. Heat
    4. Fuel
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Buoyant convection Gravity. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Shape) · Wikipedia: Microgravity

  5. Color often?

    1. Bluer
    2. Greener
    3. Black
    4. Purple
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Bluer Dim. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Oxygen) · Wikipedia: Microgravity

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Fire Ball." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-499, last updated Feb 26, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/fire-ball/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/fire-ball/ · Last updated

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