why does nichrome wire produce an orange light when heated in a flame, even...

E

Erik

New member
...though there is no test compound? why does a clean new nichrome wire produce an orange light when heated in a flame, even though there is no test compound on the wire
 
The wire itself incandesces. It emits electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum when it's heated. It can be heated either by its own resistance to electricity passing through it, or heat applied externally, no difference.

In fact you can tell the temperature of the wire by what color it is, from a dull red to orange to yellow to white. Nichrome is used because it has a very high melting point, around 1400 f.
 
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