Is a flame hotter on the outside?

[animaul12]

I was recently told that the temperature of a star (or flame, for that matter) is hotter outside the star than it is inside. This wascounter intuitive, since heat obviously disperses, so the hottest temperature seemed to be at the source of the heat in the center of the star. Are stars and flames really hotter on the outside/surface/distance than they are on the inside/center?

 

[berkeman]

A star and a flame are different. See the "Temperature" portion of this wikipedia.org page for the star info -- the core is the hottest, and the surface is the coolest:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star

For a flame, like a candle, the combustion process happens away from the core, and the heat of combustion propagates back into keep the flame continuously igniting:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/209358/flame

 

[sir-pinski]

It is a common misconception that the hottest part of a flame or star is at its center. In reality, the temperature of a flame or star is highest at its outer layers, not at its core. This is because the heat generated at the core needs to travel through the layers of gas and energy before reaching the outer layers, causing the temperature to decrease as it moves outward.

In the case of a flame, the hottest part is at the tip of the flame, where the combustion reaction is occurring and releasing the most energy. As the heat moves away from the source, it dissipates and cools down. This is why the base of a flame is cooler than its tip.

Similarly, in stars, the core is where nuclear fusion takes place, releasing massive amounts of energy. However, this energy needs to travel through the layers of gas and radiation before reaching the surface, causing the temperature to decrease as it moves outward. The surface temperature of a star is determined by factors such as its size, age, and composition.

So, in conclusion, it is accurate to say that flames and stars are hotter on the outside or surface than they are on the inside or core. This is due to the nature of heat transfer and the processes that occur within these objects.