# Fire Ball (DD-499)

> 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.

- Department: Science (also Space)
- First published: 2025-02-26
- Last updated: 2025-02-26
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/fire-ball/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Quick facts

- **DD-499-F01**: Teardrop flames. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Earth))_
- **DD-499-F02**: Hot air rises. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Cause))_

## Write-up

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

1. **Earth**: Teardrop flames.
2. **Cause**: Hot air rises.
3. **Space**: No convection.
4. **Shape**: Sphere.
5. **Oxygen**: Diffusion.

## Related case files

- [Flame Whirls (DD-504)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/flame-whirls/): I linked more fire physics

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed.

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

- Duration: 26.9 s · Published: 2025-02-26
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DGi8Yz5SnQK.mp4

### Transcript

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

## Questions & answers

**Q: Flame shape in space?**  
A: Round. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Earth) · Wikipedia: Microgravity)_

**Q: Why teardrop on Earth?**  
A: Convection. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Cause) · Wikipedia: Microgravity)_

**Q: Oxygen arrives by?**  
A: Slow. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Space) · Wikipedia: Microgravity)_

**Q: Missing in space?**  
A: Gravity. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Shape) · Wikipedia: Microgravity)_

**Q: Color often?**  
A: Dim. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Oxygen) · Wikipedia: Microgravity)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Microgravity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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/