Can Steam Ignite a Fire? Conduction Science Demo

Can you really start a fire using water? It sounds impossible—but science makes it happen!

In this short video, Museum Educator Emily explains how thermal energy and conduction can turn water into a surprising fire-starter. It all begins with a hot plate heating up water. As energy transfers directly through conduction, the water becomes so energetic that it boils and turns into steam.

At first, this steam isn't hot enough to ignite flash paper on its own. But when we use a blowtorch to heat the metal tube carrying the steam, things change. The metal conducts additional heat into the steam, superheating it. This gives the water molecules an extra boost of energy—enough to ignite flash paper!