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How can fire's temperature vary by color?

In: Energy Conservation [Edit categories]

Answer:

Do you mean 'how does the colour of a flame relate to its temperature?'
Well, every colour of light relates to a certain wavelength, which relates to a certain frequency, which relates to a certain energy of light photon via E=hf.
at higher temp, light being emitted by a substance will be more dominant in the lower wavelengths, whereas at lower temp (think background temp in your house), the radiation given off is much longer wavelength (infrared). Its the same energy, just different wavelengths!
So, a blue flame will be hotter than a red flame, but colder than a flame that might be invisible, because its emitting ultraviolet, which is very short wavelength.
Which is why you must be careful with buns-ton burners with invisible flames!

First answer by Gart79. Last edit by Gart79. Contributor trust: 12 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].

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