How Does a Firework Work?
Fireworks have a long and proud history in our culture and have been around for hundreds of years. These days, there are a wide variety of fireworks to choose from, both simple and complex. To begin to understand how a firework works, we first have to look at some of the simpler fireworks available, such as the sparkler and the firecracker. The sparkler is the base firework for any that gives off colored sparks. The main component of sparklers is a solution that is composed of an oxidizer, which is usually potassium nitrate but can take other forms; charcoal; sulfur; iron or steel powder and sugar or starch, which binds everything together. These components are mixed with water, and then a metal wire is dipped into it. When the solution dries on the wire a sparkler is born. Sparklers work when exposed to a flame. The potassium nitrate and the charcoal and sulfur ignite and are balanced to create a slow burn. As they ignite, the iron or steel powder gets superheated and bits fly off the
