WHY DOES PETROL IGNITE FASTER THAN WOOD?
Every substance begins to burn when it combines with the oxygen in the air, giving off heat and light. However, this process starts only when the material reaches a certain minimum temperature, called its ignition temperature (or ignition point).
Different materials have different ignition temperatures. Petrol has a very low ignition point, which means it needs only a little heat to catch fire. Wood, on the other hand, requires a much higher temperature to ignite, which is why it takes longer to burn.
Interestingly, a substance does not always need a direct flame to start burning. If it is heated to its ignition temperature, it will catch fire on its own. For example, in a burning building, heat is often more dangerous than flames. Heat can travel through metal pipes, water pipes, or even gas lines, warming nearby materials until they reach their ignition temperature and start burning. In some cases, even brick walls can conduct enough heat to ignite combustible objects on the other side, causing secondary fires.
In short: Petrol burns quickly because of its low ignition temperature, while wood burns slowly because it needs more heat. Fire spreads mainly through heat transfer, not just flames.
