Fireworks Report By Lanna

A flash of red, yellow and green. These are just a few of the colours seen in many different fireworks around the world. You may wonder how these wonderful explosions might happen and what chemicals were used to have a colourful blast off.

Here are six different steps on how you make a firework.

Shown here in step 1 (below) the pyros wear protective gear to protect themselves from the explosive chemicals. In this picture you see a person mixing a batch of powered chemicals which is the main ingredients to make them explode. The ultimate ingredients is the "stars" which are tiny little pellets.

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In step 2 the pyros decide whether to use a huge "star" or a tiny "star" for the big explosion. The bigger the "star", the bigger the effect. The tiny "stars" are used mainly in cherry bombs. Where as the bigger "stars" are used in huge fireworks.

Rainbow of chemicals

Preparing fireworks at Sayn Castle, Germany.

Explosion!

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During step 3 the big and small "stars" are placed inside a shell circling black powder, which burst the charges. When the fuse is lit, the black powder is ignited in the center. This causes the shell to heat up and at that same time the "stars" light up and explode into wonderful colours up in the black sky.

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Then in step 4 the entire shell is wrapped up in brown paper wheat paste. This is to keep the "stars" and black powder and everything from falling out. This is also to help burn faster.

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Now in step 5 the pyrotechnician must place the shell or shells into a large cylinder. The cylinder is placed deep in the sand as well. If a big show were to occur there would be hundred other cylinders with shells in them. Unfortunately these things don't take 5...