How do fireworks work?
Sparklers are a type of firework that produces a shower of glittery sparks, but does not explode. Simon Battensby, Getty ImagesMore Images (3)Sponsored Links Potassium Chlorate $7/LB Parlon,Red Gum, Antimony, Strontium Sulfur, Charcoal, KNO3, Aluminum www.HighQualityChems.com Fireworks Storage Safe and Secure Many Types and Sizes www.usexplosivestorage.com Fireworks have been a traditional part of New Year’s celebrations since they were invented by the Chinese almost a thousand years ago. Today fireworks displays are seen on most holidays. Have you ever wondered how they work? There are different types of fireworks. Firecrackers, sparklers, and aerial shells are all examples of fireworks. Though they share some common characteristics, each type works a little differently. Firecrackers Firecrackers are the original fireworks. In their simplest form, firecrackers consists of gunpowder wrapped in paper, with a fuse. Gunpowder consists of 75% potassium nitrate (KNO3), 15% charcoal (carbon)
Let’s think about what is required of fireworks. Dr. Dave’s Fireworks To-Do List! 1. Mix chemicals and load into firework shell. 2. Launch firework shell up into the sky. 3. Explode and make a cool nighttime display. How can we do that? Chemicals and explosions! To launch fireworks into the sky we need a mortar tube and some black powder (also known as gunpowder). You can think of a mortar tube as a cannon (think pirates!). First the gunpowder is placed inside the tube – the people who make fireworks call this the “lifting stage” – and then the fireworks shell fits right on top! Below is a picture of mortar tubes. What is a firework shell? This is the part that has the chemicals which explode and make different colors. The following is a picture of firework shells from www.howstuffworks.com. I think they look like brown apples. Click the picture for a closer look: Once the firework shell is in the air, it needs to explode (to spread the chemicals). This is done by using a special piece
Fireworks were invented by the Chinese more than 1,000 years ago. Fireworks can be thought of as two-stage rockets. The first stage is made of gun powder, another Chinese invention. Burning the gun powder produces a stream of hot gases that escape from the bottom, through a small hole. These hot gases push against the ground to send the fireworks high into the sky. Once the first stage is done burning then the second stage begins to burn. The second stage is a sealed compartment so that the hot gases have nowhere to escape. In addition to gun powder, the second stage contains an oxidizing agent. These chemicals produce oxygen to speed up the burning. Pressure builds up until the fireworks blows up causing the loud bang that you hear. The second stage also contains various metals which cause different colored sparks to shoot out when the firework explodes. This doesnt explain how all of the neat shapes are created; but that is part of the secret art of fireworks. It is worth noting that
You know they look pretty, you know they sound smashing (and they’re really, really loud.) But just what makes fireworks work? Sure, someone lights them (or smokes a cigarette near them), then quickly runs away. But let’s be serious. Encyclopedia Britannica says there are two main types of fireworks: force-and-spark and flame. Force-and-sparks are made from a combination of potassium nitrate, sulfur and finely ground charcoal, with additional ingredients that produce various types of sparks. Flame fireworks, such as the stars that are shot out of rockets, need potassium nitrate, salts of antimony and sulfur. The most popular form of firework, the rocket, gets up in the air by recoiling from the jet of fire that it throws out; its case is designed to combust as much as possible, which means that the rocket achieves maximum thrust in its earliest stage. For a more colorful explanation, check this out. If you learn better by listening, “read his lips.
