If you had beeswax attached to one end of a metal skewer and you placed the other end of the skewer in a flame, what would happen after a few minutes?

1 Answer
Oct 3, 2014

The cynical answer is that it is difficult to know because of the vague information provided. To properly calculate this one would need to know the temperature of the flame, the thermal conductivity of the skewer, the length of the skewer, and the ambient temperature. One also wonders what is intended by the length of time called, "a few minutes." None of these are very precise scientific statements.

Since the question isn't that sophisticated, a vague answer will probably be enough. Beeswax has a low melting point of 63˚ C.
- The skewer will get hot.
- Some of that heat will be transferred along its length.
- The wax will begin to melt.