What Causes the ‘Flicker’ of a Candle Flame?

A candle flame flickers because the air around it moves in little waves. Imagine you're blowing on a small fire, sometimes the wind is strong, and sometimes it's weak, making the fire waver like a smile. The hot air from the flame rises up, pulling cooler air underneath it, causing the flicker.

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Examples

  1. A candle flickers like a happy fire when you blow on it.
  2. The flame wobbles if there’s a draft near the window.
  3. It dances more when the room is cold.

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