Combustion

Combustion is another word for burning. It happens when fuel meets oxygen and heat. The result is flames, light, and warmth. Combustion is a chemical reaction we see all the time.

What Fire Needs

For combustion to happen, three things are needed. You need fuel, like wood or gas. You need oxygen from the air. And you need heat to get it started. If any one of these is missing, the fire will go out. This idea is called the fire triangle.

Uses of Combustion

People use combustion to cook food and heat homes. Car engines burn gas to make cars move. Power plants burn fuel to make electricity. Rockets use combustion to blast into space. But burning also makes smoke, so we have to be careful.

Fun Facts

• A candle flame can reach about 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Fire always burns upward because hot gases rise.
• Water puts out fire by cooling it and blocking oxygen.

Did You Know?

Your body uses a slow kind of combustion to turn the food you eat into energy for running and playing.