If you have a properly adjusted hot flame, which is pale blue with three distinct cones, what is observed if the gas control valve is slightly closed? Explain.
If the gas control valve of a properly adjusted hot flame is slightly closed, several observations can be made:
1. The flame will begin to diminish: As the gas control valve is closed, the supply of gas to the flame is reduced. This reduction in gas flow will lead to a decrease in the intensity of the flame.
2. The flame will change color: The pale blue flame, which indicates complete combustion, may shift towards a yellowish color. This color change occurs because a reduced flow of gas leads to an imbalance in the fuel-to-air ratio. As a result, incomplete combustion occurs, causing the flame to appear more yellow.
3. The flame's shape may alter: With a reduced gas supply, the three distinct cones of the flame may become less defined or even disappear. Instead, the flame may become more cone-shaped or lose its shape altogether, as the reduced gas flow struggles to maintain the characteristic shape of the flame.
Overall, the main observations when the gas control valve is slightly closed would be a diminishing flame, a change in flame color towards yellow, and a potential alteration in the shape of the flame.