Question

Explain the principle on which a fire extinguisher works.

Answer 1

Hint: Fire happens when 3 things -heat, fuel and oxygen, are in the same place at the same time. These 3 things make a fire triangle. Fire extinguisher breaks the fire triangle by taking away one or more elements of the fire triangle.

Complete step by step answer:
Fire can cause a lot of damage to any property,so it is extremely dangerous. A fire can burn when all these three things are present together:
1.Fuel (something to burn-such as wood or coal).
2. oxygen (usually from the air)
3. Heat
Fire will stop when at least one of them is removed. So, fire extinguishers are required for putting out fire and it involves the breaking of the fire triangle.

Basics principles on which fire extinguishers works:
-Smouldering: It involves removal of oxygen or decreasing presence of oxygen.
- Cooling: It involves the process of reducing heat or removal of heat.
-Starvation: It involves the removal of fuel from the scene of fire .
Fire extinguisher is quite like a giant aerosol can. It has two different substances inside. One of them is sold, liquid, or gas substance for fighting the fire. The other substance is called a propellant and is a pressurized chemical that makes the fire- fighting substance come out when we press the fire extinguisher handle.

Note: It is always important to use the right extinguisher for the fire. Not all fires are the same. And they are classified according to the type of fuel that is burning. Using the wrong extinguisher can put your life in danger and make the matter worse. For example, you must never use water extinguishers on electrical fires because you could electrocute yourself and the people nearby.