How can there be fire in space without oxygen?
How can there be fire in space without oxygen?
Inside you have the same air mixture as on Earth, but because gravity is millions of times smaller an open flame behaves significantly different. In space, of course, you can’t have any fires because there isn’t any oxidizer (i.e. oxygen) to sustain the combustion process.
What would happen if you were in space without oxygen?
The vacuum of space will pull the air from your body. Without air in your lungs, blood will stop sending oxygen to your brain. You’ll pass out after about 15 seconds. 90 seconds after exposure, you’ll die from asphyxiation.
Can combustion happen without oxygen?
Incomplete combustion will occur when there is not enough oxygen to allow the fuel to react completely to produce carbon dioxide and water. It also happens when the combustion is quenched by a heat sink, such as a solid surface or flame trap.
Would organic matter decompose in space?
Even if sufficient heat could be sourced, the reaction would only happen while the other elements were around. So, in summary, it is possible for organic matter to “rot” in space, but the conditions would have to be somewhat perfect, and it would only be a matter of time before one of the ingredients ran out.
Can you fire a gun in space?
Fires can’t burn in the oxygen-free vacuum of space, but guns can shoot. Modern ammunition contains its own oxidizer, a chemical that will trigger the explosion of gunpowder, and thus the firing of a bullet, wherever you are in the universe. No atmospheric oxygen required.
Can you have explosions in space?
In space no one can hear you explode… Many astronomical objects such as novae, supernovae and black hole mergers are known to catastrophically ‘explode’. But as long as the explosion doesn’t require oxygen, then it will work in much the same way in space as on Earth.
How is the sun still burning?
The efficiency of thermonuclear fusion is a major reason the sun has kept radiating heat for so long—the energy released by turning just one kilogram of hydrogen into helium is the same as burning 20,000 metric tons of coal.
How does the sun burn in space?
The Sun does not “burn”, like we think of logs in a fire or paper burning. The Sun glows because it is a very big ball of gas, and a process called nuclear fusion is taking place in its core. Hydrogen really doesn’t burn, it fuses, into helium. So no oxygen is required!
Would an apple rot in space?
The apple wouldn’t become rotten. You need bacteria to enable something to rot, and there are no bacteria on Mars. On the other hand, Mars does have a lot of wind. So the apple might be buried by blowing dust.
Will an explosion work in space without oxygen?
These are quite different from many explosions here on Earth, which, apart from being feeble in comparison, usually require oxygen or an added oxidant in order to ‘burn’. But as long as the explosion doesn’t require oxygen, then it will work in much the same way in space as on Earth.
What would an explosion in space look like?
An explosion in space would realistically look like a brief spherical burst of light moving outwards, as well as a discharge of energy and material from the exploding object (energy and light can both travel in a vacuum). For a moment, the area around the exploding ship would no longer be a vacuum, given the outpouring of oxygen from the ship.
What would happen if you went to space without the atmosphere?
The vacuum of space, however, is much more hostile. Without this lovely thick atmospheric blanket, you’re exposed to all sorts of things. The most serious dangers of exposure to outer space are a lack of oxygen and ebullism. Ebullism is the formation of bubbles in body fluids due to a reduction in ambient pressure.
What happens when an object ‘explodes?
Many astronomical objects such as novae, supernovae and black hole mergers are known to catastrophically ‘explode’. This means that they energetically destroy themselves or fundamentally change, releasing matter and energy into the Universe.
