How to Put a Fire Out

Approximate Time to Complete: 20-25 Minutes + Questions & Journal Time

Experiment Card

Click below to download and print this experiment card:

About This Experiment

You will be timing how long it takes for 4 different matches to stop burning. The 1st one you will light, and let burn. The 2nd one, you will put into a cup of water. The 3rd one, you will cover with a glass. The 4th one, you will break in half before lighting.

You’ll Learn:

• What happens when you take away different parts of the fire triangle.

Pre-Experiment Questions:

• What are the three things you need to make a fire?
• What are some ways that you could stop a fire?
• Which match do you think will go out the quickest? Can you explain why you think so?

Materials

• 6 matches (+ extra for mess-ups)
• 2 Long lighters
• 1 glass of water
• 1 empty glass
• Oven-bake clay (or a fireproof substance to hold your match)
• Contained fireproof surface
• Timer

Safety Considerations

This experiment should be performed by an adult. This experiment involves open flames. Avoid burns. Wear protective glasses and gloves. Wear fire-resistant clothing. Conduct this experiment outside or under a properly ventilated lab hood. Do not conduct this experiment near flammable substances or objects. A fire extinguisher and first aid equipment should be available and within reach. Follow all other general safety procedures. Perform this experiment at your own risk.

Procedure

Part 1: Set-up

1. Put a ball of clay on your fireproof surface.
2. You might want to find a helper to work the timer for you.

Part 2: The Regular Match

1. Stick the 1st match into the ball so that the head of the match is pointing up.
2. Use your lighter to light the match, and start your timer at the same time.
3. Stop your timer when the match stops burning, and write down the time.

Part 3: The Match You Put in Water

1. Stick the 2nd match into the clay so that the head of the match is pointing up.
2. Put your glass of water close to the match.
3. Use your lighter to light the match, and start your timer at the same time.
4. Carefully take the match out of the clay, and dip it in the water.
   • If you wait too long and cannot safely pick up the match, WAIT for it to burn out and try again.
   • If you can’t get it out of the clay ball fast enough, you can light it on the side of a matchbox instead, and then put it in the water.
5. Stop the timer. Write down the time.
   • Did this take more time or less time to go out than the regular match?
   • What part (or parts) of the fire triangle did you take away?

Part 4: The Match You Cover

1. Stick the 3rd match into the ball of clay so that the head of the match is pointing up.
2. Use your lighter to light the match, and start your timer at the same time.
3. Quickly put your empty cup over the match.
4. Stop your timer when the match stops burning, and write down the time.
   • Did this take more or less time to go out than the regular match?
   • What part (or parts) of the fire triangle did you take away?
   • Do you think anything would change if you used a different-sized container? Check out this experiment to test and see!

Part 5: The Match You Break in Half

1. Break the 4th match in half so that it is shorter.
2. Stick the match into the ball of clay so that the head of the match is pointing up.
3. Use your lighter to light the match, and start your timer at the same time.
4. Stop your timer when the match stops burning, and write down the time.
   • Did this take more or less time to go out than the regular match?
   • What part (or parts) of the fire triangle did you take away?
   • What if you had a longer match? Do you think it would take more or less time to go out?
   • What if you had a thicker or thinner match?

Part 6: Optional Extension

1. Stick the 1st match into the ball of clay so that the head of the match is pointing up.
2. Light the match, and start the timer.
3. When the flame stops, stop the timer and record the time.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 three times.
   • Did all of the matches take the same amount of time to burn? If not, why do you think that is?
   • Did any of them go out before reaching the bottom of the match stick? If they did, why do you think that could be?

Questions & Further Research

Use these questions as a guide to write a journal entry, make a poster, give a presentation, or write a research report about your experiment or a related topic.

1. What happens when you take away part of the fire triangle?
2. Which strategy worked best for putting out the fire in this experiment? (Using water, covering it, or taking away some of the fuel). Do you think it is the same for all fires? What about wildfires? What about grease fires?
3. Was this experiment really an equal race?
   • Hint: Do you need exactly the same amount of each component in the fire triangle? Did we take away exactly the same amount of each component in our three tests?
4. How can you use what you learned from this experiment in the “real” world?