There’s something about the magic of fireworks that ignites the crowd, the skies above and the overall atmosphere. Whether it’s an annual event or New Year’s celebrations, nothing sets off the night like a good visual display.
But behind the scenes, there’s a lot of preparation work that goes into making sure things go off without a hitch. From safety precautions through to the little details that form the bigger picture – how exactly do fireworks work?
A long history
Firecrackers and pyrotechnics have actually been around for hundreds of years. For a large part of this, they’ve also featured the same foundations: gunpowder or flash powder all packed into a tight tube, ending with a fuse that can then be lit. The powder typically contains some form of charcoal, potassium nitrate and sulphur. If the product is designed to be bright, it might even have some added aluminium in there to create extra appeal.
The formation
Fireworks are tricky to master, and there are different types that you’ll find across the market, all with various compositions. In a nutshell, though, they all have a similar foundation or structure:
- The tail: This is the stick part at the bottom, otherwise known as the ‘tail’. Ultimately, this is what makes sure the firework shoots up directly straight into the sky. It also ensures it doesn’t fly out into a random direction and cause unnecessary damage or injuries. Lastly, it backs the product with more precision and accuracy.
- Fuse: This is where it is ignited and often usually consists of paper and fabric. Some fuses are more complicated than others, though.
- The motor: Also known as the charge, this aspect is an explosive that’s designed to charge the firework up into the sky. It can even get it up to 1000ft or so, and at a tremendous speed.
- Effect: Responsible for making the amazing visual display that you see in the sky, there may be one or more effects packed into the tube, where they fire off in sequence. The slow-burning fuse allows for a time delay so that each effect gets a good turn at making a show.
- The head: This is the top of the firework and looks similar to the head of a space rocket.
Careful measurement
Pyrotechnicians have to carefully measure all of these chemicals and supplies to build the right product. If done incorrectly, it either won’t go off or can cause disastrous outcomes – so it’s a huge responsibility to get this balance right.
These professions carry the job of making sure precise calculations are done to a tee, and that the firework can reach the correct altitude and location to then explode at. All of this makes for a lengthy process, but once organised, these details are the reason you’re able to see the incredible display at your next big event.
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