The Physics of Fireworks
"What are fireworks like?" she had asked.
"They are like the Aurora Borealis" said the King, "only much more natural. I prefer them to stars myself, as you always know when they are going to appear…"
-Oscar Wilde The Remarkable Rocket
Why did we choose the topic of fireworks?
Fireworks have been a traditional means of celebration in Hawaii for generations. They are fun to watch and even more fun to set off. Most of all, we chose this topic because we like to blow stuff up and cause our own non violent explosions.
Preliminary research
In order to better understand the physics of fireworks, we decided to investigate the history behind the understanding and conception of fireworks. Originally, fireworks were created in China. The art of combining pyrotechnics and casing them has existed since the sixth century. The Chinese made explosives as defense mechanisms against the Mongol invaders in the late 13th century, thereby employing pyrotechnics for other means than art. From China, fireworks proliferated to Europe where the first records indicate gunpowder rockets as early as 1258 AD.
Despite China's initial invention and progress, Europe exceeded the technology in the 14th century, around the same time the gun was invented. Gunpowder and shot for the military were made by firemakers, or skilled military tradesmen. They were also required to make victory fireworks for celebrations of victory and times of peace.
Throughout the Renaissance, rival philosophies of pyrotechnics evolved. One originated in Italy, and the other in Germany. The Italians believed that pyrotechnics should entail the use of elaborate fireworks, while the German school emphasized scientific advancements and...
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There are many variables and trivial differences present between the products of different manufacturers, however few other than the experts will notice them. Pyrotechnics is obviously a risky hobby in which very few people can dabble, unlike most other leisure activities. In this pastime of fireworking, progress is actually the development and creation of new effects. By experimentation, a new chemical composition may create a star effect not achieved previously, and such. For an example, titanium was a relatively new addition. Throughout the history of fireworks, diminutive groups of aficionados have continuously brought pyrotechnics to new heights. Fireworks still remain the perfect spectacle for celebration, experimentation and art. Pyrotechnics will no doubt continue on as an expression of art.
Colored fire is a common pyrotechnic effect used in movies, fireworks and by fire performers all over the world. Generally the color of the flame may be red, orange, yellow, or white, and is controlled by blackbody radiation from soot and steam. When additional chemicals are added to the fire, the flame would appear a different color according to the other chemicals. Flame coloring is also a good way to show how chemicals change when heated and how they change the matter around them.
Western Europe was the perfect setting for developing the gunpowder technologies. The region satisfied all four conditions of the tournament model. Firstly, in Western Europe, rulers had a great affinity for war and viewed the prizes (glory, territory, victory over enemies of the faith) as very valuable. Moreover, rulers also faced very similar variable costs of mobilizing resources for war. The tax revenues raised in major powers were nearly equal, and the sizes of European powers were also usually comparable. Secondly, Western European powers spent heavily on war compared to other Eurasian powers, such as China and the Ottoman Empire. Thirdly, because of the focus on siege warfare and the lack of
The invention of the powerful artillery guns would change man’s role in warring engagements. The artillery guns at first were very limited by their own design. The guns were very heavy and had to be transported by water, which meant that only towns and fortresses that were close to a body of water could be attacked with artillery also known as the cannon. There were also some fortresses that were impervious to the early cannon attacks based on strong designs or natural defenses. The French were able to penetrate the round shaped castles and large walls during the late 1400s by using concentrated fire of several small guns instead of a few large ones.
The paragraph above relates to model rockets because our rockets motor is made up of a special fuel. The fuels two reactants are Potassium Nitrate and sugar or sucrose. When these two reactants are mixed together and ignited they create a violent combustion. When my rocket is launched it will have it’s fuel ignited. The two reactants will combust and produce an exhaust that pushes the rocket forward.
One, the flamethrowers used only gasoline. Though it was liquid fire, the flamethrowers had a very
The Chinese invented the earliest gunpowder-based weapon when they discovered the great potential for using gunpowder in warfare. The Chinese military focused on outsmarting and surprising their enemies with any possible ways. Therefore, fire was used in warfare because it caused great fear and confusion amongst their enemies. To improve their strategies and efficiency in sieging their enemies, Chinese military engineers experimented with gunpowder towards the first millennial. They found that gunpowder in bamboo tubes can propel themselves just with the pressure from the released gas and generally created loud noises and fire. The Wujing Zongyao, a military manual written in 1044 CE by Zeng Gongliang and Ding Du records the fundamental composition of gunpowder (see appendix 1), the process of producing it in large scales, and illustrations with descriptions of the different types of the earliest gunpowder-based weapons (see appendix 2 & 3) such as barbed arrows propelled by gunpowder and different types of bombs. During the 13th century, The Chinese military embraced the applications of gunpowder weapons and used it to prevent the Mongols from seizing parts of the Great Wall on the Northern side of China. The weapons that the Chinese had used include small bundles of gunpowder that would be wrapped in bamboo or paper and were fixed to arrows ignited with a fuse, gunpowder mixed
The invention of gunpowder found its way into the artillery cannons in the fourteenth century, but this job was very dangerous because of the unpredictable reaction of the fired explosives. The early production of gunpowder was hampered by the cannon’s slow rate of fire, inability to travel swiftly, lack of aiming capability, and confusion on the mixture. The barrels were one to three inches in diameter and some were even mounted on the bottom of carriages. The development of gunpowder is momentous in history, because it marks the invention of modern warfare.
With the creation of gun powder the Chinese were anxious to use this, in order to do that they needed something to be created so they made the fire lance it was a small cannon on a stick several feet long this is the earliest firearm ever discovered it is thought to be from the late 12th century. This was more of an addition to the soldiers spear than a gun it was not until later that the first hand cannon was made unlike the fire lance this was a weapon of its own and could shoot almost anything that the soldier could jam in the barrel that they could find on the battlefield. Both of these were fired...
Rockets were invented by the Chinese, a spin-off from their invention of gunpowder--some time around the year 1000, perhaps earlier. Rockets added a new dimension to fireworks--another Chinese contribution--but, invevitably, they were also applied to warfare, as missiles to set the enemy's cities on fire. The British took notice in 1791, when Indian troops, under Tipoo Sultan, employed rockets against them. William Congreve, a British officer, developed a military rocket and in 1806 urged its use against Napoleon. "The rocket's red glare" in the US anthem refers to the use of Congreve rockets in 1814 in an unsuccessful British attack on Fort McHenry, outside Baltimore. The aim of such rockets was notoriously inaccurate, and their use declined as artillery improved. However, commercial rockets were sold for use by ships, for carrying a line to the shore in case of shipwreck.
Gunpowder was first used by the Chinese to light fireworks. Gunpowder changed the way people will fight in wars forever. It was used in artillery and hand-held guns. Instead of using arrows, people could easily shoot a gun. Early guns were lit by a match and therefore it took a long time to light the match. Gunpowder was also used in bombs. The mixture consisted of charcoal and iron pieces. The bombs would then be catapulted forward to the enemy and then explode. BY the late 1300s, gunpowder had reached the European nations and was used in the French and English military.
What do you think of when you hear and or say “gunpowder”? Well, you might say to make bullets heat or burst, but did you know it was a mistake when the chinese discovered it. “Gunpowder” was used to trade for different kinds of supplies. There has been numerous items,inventions, and ideas that have been traded along The Silk Road that affect our life today such as gunpowder,paper,and the compass. Gunpowder has several low explosive powders in it and the main powder is gunsand. Gunsand is used for when the guns bullet shoots out it’s to give it an extra boost.
The next real step in the evolution of the gun came during the Civil War. Rifles were invented that ...
No one really knows who invented guns. Many countries make the claim that the first gun was created in their country. A good place to start with is gun powder which China has claims on that. The Chinese are believed to have been the first to create gun powder or also known as black powder. Gun powder is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. It burns rapidly, producing volumes of hot solids and gases which can be used as a propellant in firearms or as a pyrotechnic composition in fireworks. Once the people of Europe learned how black powder worked, it was not long for this knowledge was used in the advancement of creating a gun. The first recorded use of a firearm was in 1364.
The creation of oxy fuel welding and development of the first torch where two French engineers Edmond Fouche and Charles Picard became the first engineers to create the first stages of
Gun powder was invented around 1040. This later led to the inventions of other destructive devices. Although hard to believe, rockets were launched as fireworks and weapons in China in the early 1230’s. This led to William Congreve developing rockets to use during wars. Also, coming from the invention of gun powder was the gun and other projectile-firing artillery. “These new inventions greatly affected how war was fought. No more hand-to-hand combat with implied rules” (Bellis). Also with these new weapons came a higher number of casualties.