Fire Starter (Fire Piston)

Demo Number 077
Location Shelf 10
Description This shows temperature increases when a fixed mass of gas is compressed.
 Related Demos
Tips
  • Compress the air inside the tube using the plunger. Cotton at the bottom of the tube will ignite when pressure is increased rapidly.
  • Use a very small piece of cotton – almost as small as possible.
  • Can use paper as well.
  • Same process as to how a diesel engine works.
  • This also demonstrates the need for oxygen to support combustion by showing that re-ignition will only occur if the piston is completely removed to allow a fresh supply of air.
  • The apparatus can also be used to demonstrate cloud formation.

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This Demo is Part of the following Categories: 4B70 Adiabatic Pressure