A Candle Flame in an Electric Field

A Candle Flame in an Electric Field

1. Normally, with absent of wind, the flame of a candle is symmetry.
2. The heat of the candle flame removes electrons from the air molecules around it, and therefore ionised the molecule. As a result, the flame is surrounded by a large number of positive and negative ions.
   
3. If the candle is placed in between 2 plates connected to a Extra High Tension (E.H.T.) power supply, the positive ions will be attracted to the negative plate while the negative ions will be attracted to the positive plate.
4. The spreading of the flame is not symmetry. This is because the positive ions are much bigger than the negative ions; it will collide with the other air molecule and bring more air molecule towards the negative plate.