This Is the Science of Fireworks
Behind the festive fireworks, there's a lot of science. From Newton's laws to the chemistry of gunpowder to the quantum physics of electron transitions between orbitals. This colorful and eye-catching entertainment can teach us a lot of science and be a fantastic learning opportunity. (πυροτεχνηματα)
We bid farewell to the year with twelve grapes and welcome the new year with fireworks. Although the grape display is unique to our country, using colorful explosions to celebrate the New Year, or any other holiday, is quite common in many parts of the world. Fireworks can trace their history back to ancient China, where gunpowder was poured into bamboo branches to make them explode. Since then, the technique has improved considerably, and today we are capable of producing explosions of many different colors and shapes, accompanied by various sound effects.
Behind this entertainment, which delights children and adults alike, there is, as with so many other things, a lot of science.
How Fireworks Reach the Sky
It all starts with the fireworks on the ground, arranged and ready for the show. But if we exploded them down here, they would lose some of their spectacularity and, more importantly, they wouldn't be visible for miles around. That's why we need to take them to the sky. To achieve this, the same principle is used as a rocket, albeit with different chemistry.
Whether it's a rocket capable of carrying payloads to the Moon and beyond or a firework, the idea is to expel material downward at extremely high speeds, taking advantage of Newton's third law to propel the rocket upward. In the case of fireworks, black powder is used. This powder consists mainly of potassium nitrate with a certain amount of carbon and sulfur.
When the fuse is lit, the combustion of the black powder begins. As it burns, a large amount of gas is quickly created. If this powder is sealed tightly, the generated gas will have nowhere to escape, the pressure will build up, and it will eventually explode. However, if we leave an open area, the gas will be able to escape through there, propelling the rest of the cap.
Why Fireworks Use Black Powder Instead of Modern Rocket Fuel
Modern conventional rockets use different mixtures of liquid oxygen, liquid methane, or other components, capable of generating much greater thrust with less fuel. For fireworks, this is not feasible because these components require extreme cooling, are much more complex to handle, and are also more expensive than gunpowder.
As the gunpowder burns, the cap continues to rise. Depending on the amount of gunpowder, it will reach a greater or lesser height, but the most powerful caps can reach several hundred meters in height and be visible from tens of kilometers away. https://www.ifaistosfireworks.gr
