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Aidan Ermisch

Mrs. Stevens & Mrs. Radcliffe

Physical Science

13 January 2017

How Does the Amount of Fuel Affect the Size of a Fire Tornado?

Even though fire tornadoes are extremely dangerous, it still gives enough time and

opportunities for animals to escape. But this does not mean that you should linger around them.

Fire tornadoes are very terrifying, but fascinating to watch. They amaze people, but are still a

threat to people (Declin). If I add more fuel, then the size of the fire tornado will increase.

What is Fire?

Fire is burning something where that something is chemically combined with oxygen

from the air. Usually, fire gives off heat, light, and some sort of smoke (Admiel). Fire is also a

visible effect of the process of burning. Burning is a special type of chemical reaction. It occurs

between oxygen and some sort of burnable fuel. In order for this fuel to be used for fire, the fuel

must be heated to the point where it can catch fire and burn. In an incomplete combustion,

chances are, the fire will be yellow or orange, and usually, there is also smoke. Incomplete

combustion is when there isnt enough oxygen during a chemical reaction. In a complete

combustion, the flame is ordinarily blue. In complete combustion, there is enough oxygen for the

chemical reaction (What). Flames are also made up of carbon dioxide, water vapor, oxygen,9 and

nitrogen (Koundinya).

How are Fire Tornadoes Created?

Fire tornadoes are actually not tornadoes at all. In fact, they are more like whirlwinds.
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They are created by hot and dry air rising quickly from the ground. As it rises, it forms a circular

whirl in the shape of a vertical column. Fire tornadoes are also known by many more names such

as firenadoes and fire devils. Usually, fire tornadoes can be found in and around raging fires.

They could even be formed in raging fires, given the correct circumstances. Fire tornadoes keep

rising until it loses density, becomes a lower density, and dissipates higher in the air. As

Whirling Flames: How Fire Tornadoes Work said, As more hot air is pulled into the rising

column, it begins to swirl in a vortex, not unlike the vortex thats formed when water drains from

a bathtub (Whirling). Fire tornadoes dont last a long time and stay as a fire tornado for a long

time because all the hot and cool air rising and falling saps its strength, and eventually, it will

burn itself out (Whirling).

How Does Air Flow and Speed Affect the Size of a Fire Tornado?

When a still rising amount of air increases the amount of Heat Release Rate (HRR) is

anywhere from 1.3 to 1.7 multiplied by the amount of air outside the fire tornado under the

immediate weather conditions. This means that outside, fires grow bigger. This also means that

in confined spaces, fires are smaller. This is so because not as much oxygen can get through to

the fire and fuel it. These tests were used when using a low ceiling height. When that test was

done, they did another experiment. Instead of using a low ceiling height, they used a high ceiling

height. When they finished this test, the results were different than from the low ceiling height.

The result was that the fires growth rate was increased by five to ten times in size outside rather

than inside (Anders).

How Does Surface Area of the Fuel Affect the Size of Flames?

The surface area of the fuel affects the size of a fire tornado by how long the flames last
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and how high it will be according to the amount of fuel you have (Fuels). The fuel types needed

for the fire can be solid, liquid or gas. The larger the fuel, the more oxygen molecules can collide

with the fuel. This makes the reaction happen faster. The smaller the fuel, the faster the fuel will

ignite and burn. The bigger the fuel, the longer it will take to burn. For example, if you cut a

large piece of wood into several pieces, the faster they will burn. However, if the large piece of

wood does not get cut up, it will take much longer for the fuel to burn. By breaking the fuel, you

increase the surface area of the fuel, thus making the fuel burn faster (Fire).

Which Kind of Fuel is Best to Use When Creating a Fire Tornado? Why?

The best fuel is the kind that would burn the fastest. Hydrocarbons are one of the quickest

burning molecules. They are made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms. Hydrocarbons also

combine with oxygen molecules very efficiently to make carbon dioxide. They can also form

water and other gases. Different types of fuel take different amounts of time and temperature to

burn. Size also plays a factor in this. Smaller pieces burn a lot faster than larger ones. When

burning small pieces of fuel, it takes less time and energy to burn rather than using large pieces

of fuel (Fire).

When and Why do Fire Tornadoes Occur in Nature?

Fire tornadoes occur in nature when high temperatures and chaotic winds combine with

and form whirling circular funnels of air. These funnels start to transform into a tornado-like

shape that absorbs combustible gases and burning pieces of matter. Fire tornadoes are made up

of two things. They are made up of a core and circling winds around it. The core is generally one

to three feet long in a regular fire tornado. The air from the winds give the core oxygen. Oxygen

is vital for any type of fire or fire tornado. Without oxygen, there can be no fire (Than, 2).
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If I add more fuel, then the size of the fire tornado increase. Fire tornadoes can be very

dangerous, yet fascinating to see. They put many people in awe. They also terrify people and

cause great destruction in the paths they take. They wreak havoc, but are an amazing sight.
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Works Cited

Admiel, Kosman. "Fire." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Dec. 2016. Web. 05 Jan. 2017.

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire>.

Declin, Tobin. "Fun Fire Tornado Facts for Kids." Easy Science For Kids. N.p., 18 Nov. 2016.

Web. 06 Jan. 2017.

<http://easyscienceforkids.com/amazing-fire-tornado-facts-for-kids-video/>.

"Fire Behavior." Science Learning Hub RSS. University of Waikato, 19 Nov. 2009. Web. 03

Nov. 2016.

<http://sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Fire/Science-Ideas-and-Concepts/Fire-behaviour>.

"Fuel's Effect on Fire Behavior." Fuel's Effect on Fire. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2016.

<http://www.auburn.edu/academic/forestry_wildlife/fire/fuels_effect.htm>.

Koundinya, Harsha Vardhan. "What Is the Chemical Formula of Fire?" What Is the Chemical

Formula of Fire? - Quora. N.p., 25 Dec. 2014. Web. 05 Jan. 2017.

<https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-chemical-formula-of-fire>.

Anders, Lnnermark, and Hauker Ingason. "The Effect of Air Velocity on Heat Release Rate and

Fire Development during Fires in Tunnels." The Effect of Air Velocity on Heat Release

Rate and Fire Development during Fires in Tunnels. Technical Research Institute of

Sweden, n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2016. <http://www.iafss.org/publications/fss/9/701/view>.

Than, Ker. "Pictures: Fire "Tornado" Spotted-How Do They Form?" National Geographic.

National Geographic Society, 22 Sept. 2012. Web. 05 Jan. 2017.

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<http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/09/pictures/120920-fire-tornadoes-vortex

-firenadoes-devils-science-weather/>.

"What Is Fire?"

Http://sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Fire/Science-Ideas-and-Concepts/What-is-fire.

University of Waikato, 19 Nov. 2009. Web. 01 Nov. 2016.

"Whirling Flames: How Fire Tornadoes Work." Live Science. N.p., 19 Nov. 2014. Web. 1 Nov.

2016. <http://www.livescience.com/45676-what-is-a-firenado.html>.