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Materials

Combustible Play Button

Start with the video, then use the science notes and recommended parts below to follow the idea behind the build.

Materials

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How it works

What this project is testing.

Combustion is stored energy being released fast enough to make heat, light, and motion obvious. The exact material matters, but the core idea is fuel meeting oxygen with enough activation energy to keep the reaction going.

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This project is best framed as a materials demo: what changes when surface area, heat, and oxygen access make a reaction slow, fast, or suddenly dramatic.

q = m c Δ T

Released heat raises the temperature of nearby material; enough heat can push more material into reacting.

Recommended parts

Products used in this project.

Affiliate links may earn Keystone Science a commission. Match ratings, values, sizes, polarity, and safety requirements to your own build before buying.

Amazon Basics 8-Pack 9V Long-Lasting Alkaline Batteries for Smoke Detector, Electronics & Audio, Reliable, 5-Year Shelf Life

batterypower

Amazon Basics 8-Pack 9V Long-Lasting Alkaline Batteries

$12.694.7(242K)

General electronics battery pick; choose AA/AAA variants when the circuit calls for them.

EDGELEC 120pcs Breadboard Jumper Wires 20cm Wire Length Optional Dupont Cable Assorted Kit Male to Female Multicolored Ribbon Cables

jumper wires / hookup wirewiring

120pcs Breadboard Jumper Wires, 20cm Dupont Cable Assorted Kit, Male to Female

$6.984.7(4,500)

BOJACK 20 Values 200 Pcs Inductor 10 uH to 10 mH 1 W Color Ring Inductor 1 Watt Assortment Kit

inductor / coilpassive electronics

20 Values 200 Pcs Inductor Assortment Kit, 1uH to 4.7mH, 0.5W Color Ring Inductors

$13.994.8(182)

Reynolds Wrap Everyday Strength Aluminum Foil Roll, Freezer and Grill Safe, Great for Foil Packets and Home Cooking, 12 Inches Wide, 200 Total Sq. Ft.

aluminum foilfabrication

Reynolds Wrap Everyday Strength Aluminum Foil Roll, 12 Inches Wide, 200 Total Sq. Ft.

$13.494.8(29K)

TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS Countertop Microwave Ovens 1.2 Cu Ft, 12.4" Removable Turntable Smart Humidity Sensor 12 Auto Menus Mute Function ECO Mode Easy Clean Interior Black Color 1000W

microwave ovensalvage

Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Countertop Microwave Oven, 1.2 Cu Ft, 1000W

$148.994.4(32K)

Recommend only as an appliance; do not encourage buying a working microwave for disassembly. Review requirements and safety guidance before buying.

NoCry Clear Safety Glasses for Men and Women with Anti-Fog and Scratch Resistant Wrap Around Lenses, Adjustable Temples and Nose Pads — ANSI Z87 Certified Protective Eyewear with 100% UV Shielding

safety glassessafety

NoCry Clear Safety Glasses with Anti-Fog and Scratch-Resistant Wraparound Lenses, ANSI Z87 Certified

$13.984.5(49K)

Project files

Prints, kits, and downloads.

Diagrams, printable files, kits, or companion downloads will appear here when they are ready to use.

Coming soon

Contact

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