Expert: Richard J. Raridon - 11/25/2006

Question
Hello.  My name is Madison Lamm and I am a fourth graded at Wellington Elementary in Wellington, FL.  I was hoping you could help me.  I was asked to select a science project for school and I chose "what color candle burns the fastest?".  I  have done the experiment three times.  I used green, red and white candles.  I marded a line 2 inches down from the tops of all three candles and lit all three at the same time.  2 out of the 3 times the white candle burned fastest. Do you have any knowledge or experience with this that you may be able to share with me.  I would appreciate any help you can give me.  Thank you.

Madison Lamm

Answer
I don't know of any reason why different colored candles should burn differently if they are truly the same diameter.  Your sample is not big enough to draw any conclusions.  You'd probably have to repeat it 10 times and keep track of not just the fastest one, but second and third each time.