Title:

Oxygen is needed
for combustion
Aim : To investigate the size of
container affect the length of
time a candle burns

Problem statement:
How does the size of a container
affect the length of time a candle
burns?
Hypothesis: The larger a container is, the
longer a candle burns inside
the container
Variable:
(a)Manipulated: Size of container
(b)Responding: Length of time candle burns
(c)Fixed: Size and type of candle
Apparatus: 1 of 600 ml beaker, 1 of
1000ml beaker and
stopwatch

Materials: Plasticine, candles and

matches
Method:
1. A candle was ligthed up
2. 600ml beaker placed over the candle as
shown in Figure A and the stop watch started
3. The stopwatch stopped when the flame goes
out. The length of the time taken recorded.
4. Step (1) to step (3) repeated using a 1000ml
beaker as shown in Figure B.
5. The data recorded in a table.
Diagram:
Results:

Candle Time taken for candle to be

extinguished (s)
A 12
B 30
Discussion:
1. What is the relationship between the size of
a beaker and the amount of oxygen it
contains?
Ans: The bigger a beaker is, the greater the
amount of oxygen it contains
2. Which one contains more oxygen,the big
beaker or the small beaker?
Ans: The big beaker
3. Do the candles burn for the same length of
time?
Ans: No. The candle in bigger container burns
longer than in smaller container.
4. Name the gas used up inside the two
container?
Ans: Oxygen gas.
5. Predict the length of time a candle burns in a
400ml beaker. Prove it on your bar chart.
Ans: Time taken candle burns in 400ml beaker is
about 20s.
Time (s)
35
30
25
20 Time (s)
15
10
5
0
600ml beaker 1000ml beaker 400ml beaker
6. State inference can be made based on
experimental data?
Ans: The larger the container, the longer the
time of candle burns.
Conclusion:

The larger a container is, the

longer a candle burns inside
the container.