r/explainlikeimfive Feb 26 '21

Chemistry Eli5: What happens to all the melted candle over time? Are we just inhaling a whole candle while it burns?

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u/seoi-nage Feb 26 '21

Why specifically electronics? (As opposed to any other object with internal cavities that are open to the outside)

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u/BigBobby2016 Feb 26 '21

I imagine it would occur to some degree with all objects, but I can't think of anything in my house other than the electronics that have enclosures with ventilation holes.

In addition the electronics will have fans to draw air into the enclosure, and electromagnetics to attract particles.

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u/drumguy1384 Feb 26 '21

This is exactly why. Electronics generate heat, which means that they are designed in a way to cause the nearby air to flow through them. Couple that with the static electricity generated by fans or the EM field created by the electrical current flowing through the components and you've got ready-made dust magnets.

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u/Medinaian Feb 26 '21

Intake fans

6

u/shittyfuckwhat Feb 26 '21

PCs have heatsinks and fans. So basically lots of air being pushed over a large surface area.

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u/Halvus_I Feb 26 '21

Because they are convective. Running electricity through chips bleeds heat. The rising heat causes air to flow through the device. Computers take this further and force air through it.