Burning Candle in Rising Water Experiment w/ FREE Worksheet

Get ready to WOW your kids with a super EASY science experiment for kids!  This simple rising water experiment uses common household items to demonstrate a couple scientifc principles such as fire and oxygen as well as air pressure for kids. This burning candle in water experiment is fun for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and  6th graders. Olders students will benefit using the free printable burning Candle in Water Experiment Worksheets as they explore why does the water rise in the candle experiment.

Rising Water Experiment

Have you ever looked through experiment ideas for kids on google, Facebook, or Pinterst and thought it looked cool, but were convinced it was too difficult and wouldn’t work. I get it! I have been there too! This rising water experiment is NOT one of those science experiments. This the burning candle experiment is actually super simple and uses common things you have in your kitchen already! So gather a few supplies and start learning with this air pressure experiment for preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, and grade 6 students. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or homeschooler – you will want to try this super neat candle experiment that is quick and easy. Plus there is a free science worksheet to help teach the scientific method with older elementary age students too.

Candle experiment

Burning Candle in Water Experiment

All you need to try this super cool science experiment are a few simple materials you probably already have on hand:

• plate with raised rim ro bowl
• water
• candle
• ligther or matches
• mason jar or glass
• food coloring (we used blue to see it better)
• playdough (optional for holding the candle in place)

The Burning Candle Experiment

Start out by putting the candle on plate or bowl with a lip. I suggest using a chunky tall candle so the water won’t overwhelm the candle and it has some stability. If you use a tall tapered candle, you may want some playdough to hold it in place.

Mason Jar Experiments

The amount of water used will really depend on the height of your candle and the lip on your bowl. But I’d say 1/2 cupr or so was right for us. We mixed our water with food coloring first and then poured it on the bottom of the dish.

I suggest filling out the pdf science worksheets at this point to help students make educated guesses or hypothesis!

Burning Candle Rising Water Experiment

Please do a trial before you light it to make sure your candle will fit under the mason jar or glass. Light the candle and put a mason jar over the top of the candle.

WARNING: Fire is dangerous and this should only be done under the carefuly observation of a responsible adult. Please use common sense when completing this science activity.

Have students watch carefully. The candle will start lit, but won’t stay that way for long!

CAUTION: The glass will become hot to the touch. Please wait for it to cool down completely before touching; it should be handled by an adult with care.

Air Pressure for Kids

You will observe the candle going out, some bubbles forming around the bottom of the mason jar, and then the jar will begin filling up with water.

Why does the water rise in the candle experiment

The candle went out  in the jar because it ran out of oxygen. Fire needs oxygen to live. When the oxygen ran out in the upside down mason jar the candle went out without us blowing on it. But something else happened when the candle was burning, the flame heated up the air inside the glass. The hot air expanded quickly and created higher air pressure inside the glass than outside the glass. To restore equilibrium, some of the high-pressure air inside escaped from under the glass. You may have seen tiny bubbles escaping from underneath the glass. When the flame extinguished, the air inside the glass began to cool down. Cooling air contracted, which in turn lowered the air pressure inside the glass.

The remainder of the blue water was sucked in to the mason jar.

Why does water rise in burning candle experiment

Burning Candle in Water Experiment Worksheets

Students filled out the remaineder of the burgning cande in water experiment printable showing the results. After you explain what happened, ahve children write their conclusion.

Extensions Ideas:

• Try using hot water or cold water instead of room temperature water; did it make a difference?
• Use more or less water? Does that make a difference?
• Use a larger candle or smaller candle; does the size of the candle matter?
• What if you use multiple candles? Multiple candles would make the jar hotter and use up the oxygen quicker; did that make a difference?
• Use milk or vinegar instead of water. Does the type of liquid change the outcome?
• Will using a bottle with a more narrow neck change the results?

Popular Science Activities

Looking for lots more fun, science experiments for kids? You’ve GOT to try some of these outrageously fun science experiments for kids! Plus don’t miss all our science for kids, types of free science lessons, or seasonal science experiments.

• Tons of Kindergarten science experiments by month, How to Make a Lava Lamp, or POP rocks science experiment
• EASY Lemon Volcano, or 100 Amazing Food science experiments for kids (arranged by type of science), Dancing Raisins Experiment, or 19 Edible science experiments,
• Colorful Capillary action science experiment (also known as walking water), stunning Chromatography Flowers, colorful Oil and Water Science Experiment, or beautiful Color-Changing Flowers
• Magnet Experiments for Kids, amazing Magnetic Field Sensory Bottle, hands-on Science experiments with batteries, fun squishy circuits projects, and 30 Simple machines science projects
• 24 Epic Solar system science projects, HUGE Free Solar System Unit, Pipe Cleaner Constellation Activity, and simple Galaxy science project
• Why do Leaves Change Color Experiment, Leak Proof Bag Science Experiment with Everyday Materials, EPIC Mentos and Soda Experiment, and Mind-Blowing Magnetic Slime for Kids
• Fun Water balloon science experiment that explores density, 50 Fun Preschool science experiments, and Animal Classifications for Kids Cootie Catchers
• Weather Projects – how to make a weather vane and Air pressure science project
• Color Changing Slime, colorful bubble snakes, neat burning candle experiment worksheet answers, fun Lego Zipline, look INSIDE a Volcano Project, or Exploding Watermelon
• Human Heart for Kids, hands-on Human Body Project, Eye opening Eye science experiments, Life Size Skeletal system science project, free parts of the brain worksheet, and playdough human body game
• Hands-on Newton’s cradle project, DIY draw bot for kids to make, LOTS of Life Cycles for Kids and 10 fun science experiments

Science Experiment for Kids

Before you grab your free pack you agree to the following:

• This set is for personal and classroom use only.
• This printable set may not be sold, hosted, reproduced, or stored on any other website or electronic retrieval system.
• Graphics Purchased and used with permission from
• All material provided on this blog is copyright protected.

> Why does water rise Burning Candle in Water Experiment Worksheets <<