Mechanics of fire

[MetaUniT]

Say I flick my lighter, what happens to make the flame?

My understanding so far is that

>friction creates heat (spark)[(from colliding particles I presume??) but how??]

>heat causes the electrons in the atoms of the lighter fluid to jump to outer orbits (what causes the heat to change the behavior of the electrons? I'm assuming a force carring particle is exchanged)

>with electrons in new orbits the atoms rearrange exchanging electrons with atoms in the surrounding air

 

What is it exactly that causes the heat and light, I suppose photons are being given off, but at what part in the process does that happen? Do sub-atomic particles such as force carriers play a role in this process? Thanks in advance for the help. (I've never taken a physics class in my life so please forgive me if I have no idea what I'm saying, haha!)

[derek w]

Lighter fuel is carbohydrate molecules,which releases energy when broken by oxidation.

[swansont]

http://www.centerforcommunicatingscience.org/the-flame-challenge-2/meet-last-years-winner/

 

(Winner of Alan Alda's flame challenge from last year)

 

 

Feynman's explanation

[Moontanman]

awesome swansonT, i love listening to that guy...

[mathematic]

Lighter fuel is carbohydrate molecules,which releases energy when broken by oxidation.

Lighter fluid is hydrocarbon (butane usually), not carbohydrate.

[MetaUniT]

What a great video, thank you for that! That was an excellent overview, but I'm looking for details as to what exactly is happening when the atoms "snap back together." I know they are held together by one of the 4 forces, I think either the electromagnetic force (or maybe the weak nucular force), but the shuffling of the atoms emits subatomic particles (at least photons) as a means of exchanging energy, and that's what I'm interested in. And thanks for the answers.

[derek w]

Lighter fluid is hydrocarbon (butane usually), not carbohydrate.

 

Thanks for the correction.