Why does a church candle crack and smoke?

A church candle can crack and smoke for a few reasons. The most common cause of this is an improper wick. If the wick is too long, it can cause the candle to burn too hot, leading to the wax cracking and smoking. This is because the heat from the burning wick is too intense for the wax to handle, causing it to expand and crack. In addition, if the wick is too thick, it can also cause the candle to burn too hot and lead to cracking and smoking.

Another common cause of cracking and smoking is an uneven burning surface. If the wax surface of the candle is uneven, the heat from the burning wick will not be evenly distributed, leading to some parts of the candle burning hotter than others and causing the wax to expand and crack.

Finally, if the candle is made from a low-quality wax, it can also lead to cracking and smoking. Low-quality wax is more prone to cracking and smoking because it is more brittle and can't handle the heat from the burning wick as well as a higher-quality wax.

In conclusion, a church candle can crack and smoke for a few reasons, including an improper wick, an uneven burning surface, and low-quality wax.