My wife did a bit of re arranging of some ornaments around the house yesterday. This morning, while standing in the dinning room with the sun beaming through a north facing window, we could smell smoke, and it was quite strong. We assumed it was coming from one of the neighbours slow combustion fires, until my daughter pointed to the dining room table, where there was some smoke rising from the table runner mat. A round bottom spherical chemistry flask full of water( used as a flower vase) had concentrated the sunlight into a point source onto the table mat and started to burn it. We couldn't believe what we just saw, we were just about to go outside into the yard for a while, it was a lucky catch, could have ended differently.
yes...very fortunate .....I have seen photos of cars in London who have ' melted ' mirrors ( housing made of plastic ) deformed from sun-glare reflected from high rise windows.
Had a bottle of water in the centre console of the car once. The focal point etc was just right, and sure enough, the plastic of the centre console storage box started smoking. If I hadn't been in the car waiting, it could have ended VERY differently.
Someone has even made a Youtube video showing precisely the issue. I ALWAYS make sure now if I am leaving the car to cover or remove water bottles.
