The Pillar of Fire Demonstration (also called the Flame Tornado) is a real crowd pleaser. The apparatus is easy to build, and all the materials are readily available. I first saw a device similar to this at a presentation by the late Tik L. Liem. You can read about his apparatus and procedure for the demonstration in the second edition of Invitations to Science Inquiry. Another version can be found in Robert Becker's Twenty Demonstrations Guaranteed to Knock Your Socks Off!, published by Flinn Scientific Inc.
Materials
For the screened-in turntable you will need:
One 12-inch plastic Lazy Susan (any local department store).
A 35-inch length of 3-foot wide hardware cloth (screen wire will work).
Five or six plastic cable ties.
You will also need an evaporating dish and a cork ring. The only tools required are an electric drill, scissors, and glue.
Coil the hardware cloth into a cylinder. Place it in the Lazy Susan and adjust the overlap until the diameter of the cylinder is so that it just fits. Use cable ties to hold the screen cylinder together.
Drill two small holes through the lip of the Lazy Susan. Make them about 180 degrees apart.
Use cable ties to attach the screen cylinder to the Lazy Susan. Trim the excess ends of the ties with scissors.
Glue a cork ring to the bottom of the Lazy Susan. Be sure to get it centered. Place an evaporating dish on the ring. Modeling clay can be used in place of the cork ring. (This step may be easier before attaching the screen cylinder. "Duh".)
The Pillar of Fire apparatus in use.
©2006 W.C. Deese. All Rights Reserved.