Why the 4th rules

For the sake of the Fourth of July I am writing a very special Post. Granted it is a little late but hey, I have been busy. Everybody has seen fireworks, either on the Fourth of July or New Year's Eve or that time in Eight grade when "someone" threw that M80 down the toilet in the boys bathroom.

The two categories that pyrotechnic devices fall under firecrackers and sparklers. For todays lesson we will be learning the fist one. Firecrackers have been around since at least the Han Dynasty (206BC - 220AD) where their loud sound was intended to frighten evil spirits. Fireworks were first used during either the Sui and Tang Dynasties (581-907) or the Song Dynasty (10th Century). From there Fireworks have been used for celebrations. They were even used for George Washington's 1789
inauguration. The most major events in which fireworks are used are: Bonfire night in Britain, U.S. Independence Day, New Year's Eve, Indian Festival of Lights, Lunar New Year in Hong Kong, Maltese Petards.

Aerial Fireworks consist of four or maybe five parts:
Container: Generally this is a paper package shaped into a cylinder
Stars: This is the part that actually makes the sparkle
Bursting charge: A charge at the center of the firecracker
Fuse: This is what cause a time delay
Lifting Charge: This is not always necessary

The fireworks are shot out of a mortar which is usually a steal pipe. The lifting charge goes off and it shoots the package out of the launch tube. The lifting charge is not always necessary because the aerial fireworks can be launched using compressed air rather than gunpowder. Walt Disney was the fist company to use such a launch system commercially. Then instead of a fuse an electronic timer is used. The reason for using compressed air is that there are no fumes and the hight and timing can be better controlled. When the package reaches the right hight the fuse will run out and it will send the Stars out into the sky to create a great aerial show. Depending on the arrangement of the stars in the container depends on the shape of light show. There are nine different types of packing arrangements. There are shells that are made in multi break shapes so two or more of these arrangements are put into one package.
Palm: Large charges travel outward and then curve downward.
Round shell: Creates a light show in a spherical shape.
Ring shell: Instead of a spear of light this only creates a ring.
Willow: Shape of willow branches and may even stay visible on the way down.
Roundel: This creates a circle of shells that explode in sequence
Chrysanthemum: Like the flower this is a spherical shape that leave a trail.
Pistil: Chrysanthemum with a different center color.
Maroon shell: All this does is make a loud bang.
Serpentine: This sends small tubes outward in random directions.

The colors of the fireworks depend on the chemical composition of the stars.
Red: strontium salts & lithium salts,
Orange: calcium salts & calcium chloride
Gold: incandescence of iron (with carbon) & charcoal
Yellow: sodium compounds & cryolite
White: magnesium & aluminum
Green: barium chloride
Blue: copper acetoarsenite & copper chloride
Purple: strontium (red) and copper (blue) compounds

There... A simple yet effective lesson on fireworks. This is only for informational purposes. That is why there is probably a lot more things that can but will not be said in this post. Who knows what night happen? Some retard might read this and try to make something and then hurt themselves. Remember... if you do not know what you are doing when it comes to pyrotechnics don't play with them. Chances are you will probably hurt yourself or others. Worst you will kill yourself. At best your girlfriend will be opening up your ketchup bottles for the rest of your life and then the Fourth of July will really suck.


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