XxCotHGxX t1_j9ywbf7 wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:14 PM

It's the same as blowing out a candle. You are separating the burning gases from the fuel faster than it can burn more. At the point that there are no more burning gases touching the fuel, the flame is out.

YEETAWAYLOL OP t1_j9ywled wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:16 PM

Hang on. My understanding was that blowing out a candle suffocated it (your breath was all CO2). Is that understanding incorrect?

PixieBaronicsi t1_j9yxbz4 wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:21 PM

No, the air you breathe out is only about 5% carbon dioxide. It still contains about 15% oxygen, compared to about 20% oxygen in regular air

XxCotHGxX t1_j9yxdsd wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:21 PM

Yes that understanding is incorrect. Your breath is not all CO2 and contains enough oxygen for combustion.

camkatastrophe t1_j9yxhii wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:22 PM

The CO2 doesn’t help, but it’s not the reason it goes out. A candle can be extinguished by a fan or wind blowing regular air with normal oxygen richness just the same.

YEETAWAYLOL OP t1_j9yxoya wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:23 PM

Yeah, I guess I was kinda stupid there. You also blow on fires when they are first starting, so I should have realized that it doesn’t necessarily put it out.

TheHam06 t1_j9yxthl wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:24 PM

Think of the concept of blowing gently on a small fire to make it grow. They steady stream of fresh o2 from your breath gives it more oxygen than the air around the fire.