Why does candle wax drip?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Liquid wax flows with gravity
Liquid wax flows with gravity ✓ — Correct! Candle wax is solid at room temperature but melts at 50-70°C from the flame's heat. Liquid wax flows down the candle sides due to gravity. If you hold a candle level and still, less dripping occurs—it's all about gravity pulling melted wax!
Air pressure melts wax — Wrong. Air pressure doesn't melt wax. Heat from the flame melts it, and gravity causes dripping when liquid wax flows over the candle edge.
Wick pulls wax down — Wrong. The wick draws liquid wax upward into the flame (capillary action), but dripping happens when more wax melts than the wick can absorb—gravity makes excess flow down.