Why do campfires appear orange/yellow?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Incomplete combustion temperature
Incomplete combustion temperature ✓ — Correct! Flame color depends on temperature and combustion completeness. Campfires (~1000-1200°C) have incomplete combustion—producing glowing carbon particles (soot). Hot soot emits blackbody radiation peaking in orange-yellow (~600-650nm). Hotter, complete combustion produces blue flames (~1400°C, like gas stoves). Temperature = color: red (~800°C), orange (~1000°C), yellow (~1200°C), blue (>1400°C)!
Wood contains orange pigments — Wrong. Wood pigments don't determine flame color. Orange/yellow comes from hot carbon particles (soot) emitting blackbody radiation at that temperature.
Flames reflect firelight — Wrong. Flames don't reflect—they emit light. Orange/yellow color is from hot carbon particles radiating light at those wavelengths due to their temperature.
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