It's raining fire!

Hola one & all.

First post so I'll go for something a little out there...

Today, I & a few others were watching a video about fire prevention as part of our training for Health & Safety.

So I was watching & it got to the part where it tells you that a fuel, oxygen & a heat source are needed to start a fire. So I thought, "So... Could the sky set on fire?"



So, at break time, I asked one of the guys who started with me (who helpfully had a degree it physics. ) if it could be possible. I mean, with the air being made up of oxygen & other gases. & hyrdogen being a gas with the potential to combust. All that's needed is a heat source. Albeit a very, very large one.

All in all, I'd appreciate some feedback as to wether I'm a stark-raving loon who should never be allowed to theorise or an embarrassing flame. Either'll do nicely.

No.

Remember, fire needs oxygen and fuel. There's nothing to fuel the fire. Otherwise we'd have all gone out in a blaze of glory when the first volcano errupted.

Air is densest here at ground level. Several miles above ground, the air is too thin to sustain a flame.

Flashovers occur when volatile chemicals/fuel vaporize and collect under a ceiling. Then you get a flashover in fires.

I get that. But what I'm trying to get across is this:

The fuel for the fire is already there, in the form of hydrogen. & what I thought was that, with enough of a heat source, the air would ignite. Seeing as you already have the fuel (hydrogen) & the oxygen all that's needed is a source of heat for the sky to ignite. Although not at high altitudes like you said.

Rambling on & repeating myself, I know.

Bah! I know what I mean... just can't find the words.

[Edited on 7-1-2003 by Kon]

There is fuel...in the atmosphere there's oxygen carbon and hydrogen what more do you need?!

Exactly....HEAT! There just isn't enough heat to catch the chemical make-up of the air on fire, and definately not enough to sustain a reaction.

The oxygen in the air is used easily enough for fire, but that's where the fuel comes in, something that can sustain a reaction with a small ammount of applied heat.

Like a candle.

Sincerely,
no signature

The amount of hydrogen in the air is minute. If you put enough of "other-burnable-things" in the atmosphere to start a flashover, we would suffocate before the fire started.

Remember, the amount of NITROGEN (unburnable stuff) in the air is over 70%. And the amount of carbon isn't as carbon gas; it's as carbon dioxide, which is the afterproduct of buring/metabolism. It won't reburn.

[Edited on 8-1-2003 by Byrd]