Laura Smith
The question Have you ever seen fire in zero gravity? is a quote from the movie Event Horizon. The vocals are sampled in a song by the same name by Infected Mushroom. The song describes the beauty of fire in zero gravity, likening it to liquid that slides over everything and comes up in waves. Interestingly, fire in zero gravity behaves differently due to the absence of convective flow, resulting in a unique flame shape and colour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lyrics | "Have you ever seen fire in zero gravity? It's beautiful. It's like liquid. Slides all over everything. Comes up in waves. And they just kept hitting him, wave after wave. He was screaming for me to save him." |
| Sample | The vocals are sampled from a conversation between Miller and D.J. in the movie Event Horizon. |
| Versions | One version appeared on Hardcore Underground 5 without the vocal samples, and another with the samples was released for free. |
| Flame in zero gravity | The absence of gravity makes the flame spread evenly and in a circular form. There is no convective flow to pull the flame upwards. |
| Colour | The flame may be purple or blue due to incomplete combustion. |
| Outer edge | The outer edge of the flame may appear brighter due to more efficient oxygen contact. |
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What You'll Learn
- Fire in zero gravity is like liquid, sliding over everything in waves
- The absence of gravity makes the flame spread evenly in a circular form
- Incomplete combustion of wax can result in a purple or blue flame
- The ISS has conducted flame experiments in microgravity
- The vocal samples in the song are from a conversation between Miller and D.J. in the movie Event Horizon
Fire in zero gravity is like liquid, sliding over everything in waves
Fire in zero gravity is a mesmerizing phenomenon, almost like a work of art in motion. It behaves quite differently from how we typically observe it on Earth, with the absence of gravity causing the flame to spread evenly and circularly, rather than being pulled upwards by convective flow. This results in an enchanting display of fire sliding over everything in its path like a liquid, gracefully undulating in waves.
The unique behavior of fire in zero gravity is due to the lack of thermal currents, which can disrupt the combustion process. This disruption leads to incomplete combustion, causing the flame to take on a purple or blue hue. The outer edge of the flame may appear brighter, as it comes into more efficient contact with oxygen.
The idea of fire in zero gravity has captivated many, with references to it appearing in popular culture, such as the movie "Event Horizon" and its iconic quote, "Have you ever seen fire in zero gravity? It's beautiful. It's like liquid; it slides all over everything. Comes up in waves." This description captures the essence of the phenomenon, highlighting the beauty and fluidity of fire in a gravity-free environment.
Experiments conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) have also provided insights into fire's behavior in zero gravity. These experiments require special enclosed containers to manage the inherent dangers associated with fire in a low-gravity environment. The results offer valuable knowledge for understanding fire safety in space and even for improving technologies such as fusion reactors.
Fire in zero gravity is a fascinating and almost surreal occurrence. The way it spreads and moves, unhindered by the pull of gravity, creates a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow. It serves as a reminder of the beauty and power of nature, even in the vastness of space where the laws of physics operate differently from what we experience on our planet.
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The absence of gravity makes the flame spread evenly in a circular form
The way fire behaves in zero gravity has long been a subject of scientific curiosity and investigation. In the absence of gravity, flames tend to form a spherical shape. This is because, in a typical flame, combustion products like heat, light, carbon dioxide, and water vapour are produced. These products expand and rise due to buoyancy, creating space for fresh oxygen-containing air to fuel the flame further.
However, in a zero-gravity environment, density differences cannot exist, and neither buoyancy nor convection occur. As a result, the combustion products accumulate around the flame, preventing oxygen from reaching it. This accumulation of combustion products causes the flame to spread evenly in a circular form, creating a spherical shape.
This phenomenon was demonstrated in a NASA experiment, where the absence of gravity resulted in spherical flames. The experiment aimed to understand how fire spreads in low-gravity conditions to improve fire safety systems for future spacecraft. Scientists found that while oxygen could still reach a flame in zero gravity if it was blown into the flame or allowed to diffuse, the diffusion process is too slow to sustain the flame.
The spherical shape of flames in zero gravity is a striking contrast to the typical flame behaviour in gravity-bound environments, where flames rise and spread upwards due to the effects of buoyancy and convection. In the absence of gravity, flames appear almost liquid-like, sliding and spreading evenly in all directions. This unique behaviour of fire in zero gravity has captured the imagination of many, even inspiring music and art.
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Incomplete combustion of wax can result in a purple or blue flame
The song "Have You Ever Seen a Fire in Zero Gravity" by Infected Mushroom features the lyrics: "It's beautiful/It's like liquid/Slides all over everything/Comes up in waves". These lyrics evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity about the behaviour of fire in a weightless environment. Interestingly, NASA scientists have conducted experiments to observe how candle flames behave in microgravity, and their findings support the lyrical imagery. In microgravity, a candle flame takes on a spherical shape, and without gravity, warm air has no upward direction to rise, eliminating the convection current.
Now, onto the topic of incomplete combustion and its visual indicators. Incomplete combustion of wax, such as candle wax, can result in a purple or blue flame. The colour of a flame is indicative of the combustion process and the presence of specific chemical elements. When fuel burns, electrons in the atoms of the fuel are excited to higher energy levels, and as they return to their original energy levels, they release energy in the form of light. The wavelength of light determines the colour perceived.
Blue flames, often seen with burning gases like natural gas or propane, indicate a more efficient combustion process with a sufficient oxygen supply. They are the hottest type of flame and are usually observed in gas stoves, Bunsen burners, or propane torches. However, a blue flame can also indicate incomplete combustion in certain fuels, like candle wax. This is because a candle flame has multiple zones with different temperatures and colours. The outermost zone, where the flame meets oxygen directly, is typically blue and is the hottest part of the flame.
Purple flames, on the other hand, are often associated with the presence of potassium-based compounds, commonly found in fireworks. Incomplete combustion of wax can produce soot particles, which can influence the colour of the flame. Soot particles are formed from carbon, and when they are fully combusted, they produce a blue flame due to the excitation and ionisation of gas molecules. However, if there is incomplete combustion, the presence of unburned soot particles can result in a purple flame.
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The ISS has conducted flame experiments in microgravity
The International Space Station (ISS) has indeed conducted flame experiments in microgravity. These experiments are aimed at understanding the underlying physics of flame behaviour and combustion without the masking effects of gravity. Gravity-driven forces like buoyancy and convection make it difficult to observe the fundamental aspects of combustion on Earth.
In microgravity, the typical circulation effect of a candle flame does not occur, resulting in a spherical flame instead. This unique behaviour of flames in microgravity has been the subject of several experiments conducted by researchers aboard the ISS. Ya-Ting Liao, a researcher at Case Western Reserve University, has been at the forefront of these investigations. Her experiments focused on studying how flames behave in confined spaces and the interaction of fire with surrounding walls. The goal was to improve fire safety models for buildings and other structures.
The ISS National Lab project has also sponsored other flame experiments, such as the Saffire series, which allowed for scaled-up studies of fire spread, and the Solid Fuel Ignition and Extinction (SoFIE) Growth and Extinction Limits (GEL) experiment, which was successfully conducted in the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) aboard the ISS. The discovery of a specific type of cool flame, which burns at extremely low temperatures, was an important breakthrough during the Flame Extinguishment Experiment (FLEX). Learning about these chemically distinct flames may lead to the development of more efficient and less polluting vehicles.
The ISS flame experiments have provided valuable insights into fire behaviour in microgravity, improving our understanding of combustion and enhancing the safety of future space exploration. These experiments have also had practical applications on Earth, guiding the design of structures and fire safety codes. As Liao reflected, "Currently, we do not usually consider confinement when designing fire-safe structures, so I'm interested in raising awareness by showing how important it is to saving lives."
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The vocal samples in the song are from a conversation between Miller and D.J. in the movie Event Horizon
The electronic music duo Infected Mushroom is known for incorporating vocal samples from movies and TV shows into their songs. Their 1997 remix of "Gravity Waves," for instance, includes a sample from the movie "Independence Day." Another one of their songs, titled "Dracul," has an intro that appears to be "from a play or movie," with the line, "May God unite us in spirit."
Infected Mushroom's song "Transcend - Zero-G Fire" also contains vocal samples. The vocals are sampled from a conversation between Miller and D.J., characters from the movie "Event Horizon." Specifically, the song samples Miller's lines:
> "You ever seen fire in zero gravity? It's beautiful. It's like liquid. Slides all over everything. Comes up in waves. And they just kept hitting him. Wave after wave. It's beautiful. And they just kept hitting him. Wave after wave."
The song has two versions: one that appeared on "Hardcore Underground 5" without the vocal samples, and another that was released for free and included the samples.
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