RocketScience!

Shapes

In fireworks, they use all sorts of different chemicals to make those bright colors. They pack those chemicals into pea-sized balls, called stars. The stars are mixed with explosive black powder poured into the shell and packed around a bursting charge. The bursting charge is a very explosive core which is lit and explodes first sending the stars flying apart. In the process, the charge ignites the black powder which lso gets the stars so hot that they glow or catch fire! The whole thing is launched from a mortar, often a big pipe that launches the shell like a cannon. 3…2…1… Woosh…KaBAM!!!

Usually the stars are arranged randomly, and you get an even spread of stars. However, if the stars are packed carefully in predetermined patterns, then shapes emerge as the stars are sent in specific directions.

Here's a great video which demonstrates how shells are put together. Beware, if you are using a modem it may take a while to load.

Next learn about what
gives fireworks different colors.

Then put it all together and
build your own fireworks online!

Or go back to the introduction.