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History of Science and Technology

European Pupils Magazine
Revisiting Faraday and Leonardo
with the flame of a candle
Pietro Cerreta
ScienzaViva association – school net A.M. Maffucci Calitri AV, Italy

In Italy, people know Michael Faraday as a great

scientist, but not as the brilliant science communicator
too, as he is correctly considered in the Anglo-Saxon
world. I discovered his unexpected figure of able science
lecturer, devoted to common people science learning,
when I was following the debate of science professional
centres on the phenomena of the candle, to understand
them. Faraday’s book The Chemical History of a
Candle struck me for the harmonic simplicity of its
experiments. I immediately shared Dicken’s opinion,
about Faraday: «I think I may be able to do something
with the candle; but I would not touch it, or have it
touched, unless it can be relighted with something of the
beautiful simplicity and clearness of which I see the traces
in your notes».
Reflecting on the pages of this book, the text of six
lectures delivered by Faraday at the Royal Institution of THE CHEMICAL HISTORY
THE SHADOW OF THE
CANDLE FROM Great Britain 1860-61, I have selected a collection of experiments on the candle and,
FARADAY’S BOOK
now, I present them as a science show. I draw inspiration from Faraday’s original
technical tools, but I use mostly the modern technology and an actual
repertoire. Engaged in this type of experiments, I have discovered
recently that Leonardo (some centuries before Faraday) had been
fascinated by the same aspects of the candle flame. In my opinion,
therefore, the candle can be truly a useful object to introduce people
both to science, an «open door by which you can enter into the study
of natural philosophy», as Faraday wrote, and to the history of
science. I put on stage the following scenes.

A candle: its history, its flame and its cup. Why are the edges
much cooler than the part within?
The wick and the capillarity. The dark shadow of the bright
flame, how to see steaming upward the ascending current of hot air
using the sun or an overhead projector light: comparison between
WHITE SMOKE OR WAX VAPOR
Fadaray’s and Leonardo’s descriptions.

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History of Science and Technology
European Pupils Magazine

ACTION ON THE CANDLE BLACK SMOKE OR SOOT

The flame is hollow. Three flame effects: water production up,

soot in the middle; and wax vapour down. Carbon dioxide puts out
progressively three candle flames.
How to take soot from a candle with a caress and with the trick of
the cork. Soot moustaches. The candle catches fire again.
Mechanical and magnetic action on a candle and many other little
phenomena. Analogy between respiration of living beings and the
flame of a candle.
I like to conclude my scientific and scenic performance with
the original message that Faraday delivered to his audience: «you
may…be fit to compare to a candle; … you may, like it, shine as
lights to those about you; …in all your action, you may justify the
beauty of the taper by making your deeds honourable and effectual
in discharge of your duty to your fellow-men». A teacher must be
THE CANDLE IS HOLLOW
a missionary.

Bibliography
M. Faraday, La storia chimica di una candela, Istituto dell’Enciclopedia Italiana fondata da G. Treccani,
1982, Roma
P. Galluzzi, “L’ombra della luce. La mente di Leonardo al lume di candela” in La mente di Leonardo. Nel
laboratorio del Genio Universale, Giunti, 2006, Firenze

Iconography
www.bartleby.com/30/7.html
www.deutsches-museum-shop.com/pictures/9780486425429P.jpg

EPMagazine 16