How an iPhone App Uses Sound to Blow Out Candles

James of The Action Lab explained how the iOS phone app Blower is able to blow out a flame using sound.

James first tested the app with a birthday candle to see if it really worked. After the candle was successfully extinguished, he examined how that could happen as iPhones don’t have fans.

How is this app using sound to blow out the candle? Well it has to do with the difference between sucking and blowing. When the speaker cone inside of the iPhone moves out it pushes a little bit of air out of the tiny little holes at the bottom of the iPhone and then when the speaker cone moves the other direction it sucks air back in. 

App Blowing Out Candle
Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.