The persistence of the candle-and-cylinder misconception

There is a persistent misconception that when a lighted candle is supported in a container of water and a closed cylinder is lowered over the candle, the candle is extinguished after a time by complete consumption of the oxygen in the cylinder, with a volume change corresponding to the amount of oxygen in the air. This misconception has appeared in the literature periodically for many years. Here, we present a number of experiments that refute this misconception. An alternative explanation that is consistent with all the collected data attributes the change in volume to expulsion of heated air while the cylinder is being lowered over the lighted candle. The flame is extinguished by local depletion of oxygen and buildup of carbon dioxide near the candle.