Using A Spray Can and the Sun to Make Fire

There are many ways to make fire. Usually, it involves friction and a source of fuel. We can picture fire created from a match, a cigarette lighter, and a stove, but can you imagine fire coming from a pressurized spray can? You probably can if you imagine spraying it's highly volatile contents onto a flame. That would surely create a big fire and this blog doesn't advise you to do that!

What we are talking about here is making fire from a pressurized spray can together with the light of the Sun. it's really simple. if you'd turn the can of an air freshener or a bug spray, you'd notice that the bottom is shiny and curved (concave). This is what you can use to make fire.

During a cloudless day at noon in summer, go out with your spray can and a thin piece of paper in the open sun and point the can bottom up towards the sun. You'll see that the light of the sun is reflected off the bottom of the can and focused at a point, much like when you use a convex magnifying glass to burn paper. Only this, time, we are using a concave device to focus the rays.

You can see where the rays converge by placing your piece of paper in front of the can bottom and moving it back and forth. You shouldn't block out the sun though and you have to keep the can parallel to the rays of the sun. It's tricky, but with enough practice you can get to burn a round hole in the paper you have. You should not stare too long at the reflected light from the
sun since it can be damaging to your eyes. Use a welder's glass to be on the safe side.

This activity shows you how much energy from sun can be harnessed from an area the same size as the bottom of a spray can! Please do not do this activity without supervision if you are a kid and never, ever look at the sun directly. You should not use any optical device like a telescope to look at the sun if you don't have proper filters and know-how.

Save gas! Convert your car to burn water.

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