How Fireworks Work

 

Fireworks are explosive devices that produce various colors, noises, and other effects in the sky. They are a popular form of entertainment and are commonly used for festivals, special occasions, and sports events.

How fireworks work

To assemble a fireworks display, trained professionals called pyrotechnicians first make stars by mixing different chemicals or metals in a mixture of black powder. The chemical additives produce certain colors when the black powder reacts with the heat from exploding it. These colors include blue, red, green, yellow/gold, white, silver and glitter.

These chunks of chemical additives are usually arranged in cardboard or plastic containers called shells. Then fuses are attached or embedded in the shell and everything is wrapped in paper.

The shell holds a fuse and a lift charge that launches the shell into the air when it is ignited by black powder. It may also contain sound charges that cause the loud cracking bangs and thunderous booms that give fireworks their spectacular effect.

When a shell reaches its apogee, the fuse will burn low enough to ignite colored stars in every direction. However, the fuse must be able to resist the force of the explosion because the stars will spread over a large area. This is accomplished by using heavy wrapping to slow the flow of gas and heat.

In order to be effective, the fuse must burn slowly and for a long time before it gets to the compartments that hold the black powder. This is why time-delay fuses are so common in Fireworks.

A time-delay fuse can be a mixture of gun powder or perchlorate (another kind of explosive) that burns slowly and gradually. This allows the pyrotechnicians to control how much of the black powder is released at each moment during the fireworks show.

These fuses can be very fragile and should not be handled by anyone other than a professional pyrotechnician. If the shell is handled too roughly or if the fuse is not designed correctly, the firework can easily detonate in the hands of a spectator or by accident.

Most fireworks are made from a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulfur known as gun powder. It is the most common and widely used type of explosive in fireworks.

The other main ingredient is a type of oxidizer. The oxidizer carries the color or other effects. The oxidizer can be a chemical compound such as potassium nitrate, perchlorate or a combination of both. The color can be produced with a variety of chemicals or with metals such as aluminum, iron, copper or zinc.

There are four types of oxidizers that can be used to produce the colors and effects in fireworks. The oxidizer can also be an element such as nitrogen or oxygen.

When fireworks are fired, it creates a bright glare and can cause damage to nearby structures or property. They can also be dangerous to animals and children who are unsupervised around them.

The chemicals that flammable fireworks contain can be harmful to humans and pets. These chemicals can also produce toxic vapors and odors. For this reason, it is important to use only legal consumer fireworks and to keep children away from them. Those who have a medical condition should consult their physician before buying or using any fireworks.