Would anything happen?
2006-07-06 14:06:33 · 21 answers · asked by Diane 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
As others have said they have their own oxidizer so they would light, and they would explode and the bits from the explosion would separate into an expanding sphere that should continue moving for almost eternity! The center of mass of that expanding sphere would remain exactly where the explosion took place.
You would not hear them because there is no air in space to transmit the sound.
However, you could be easily pelted with the debris from the expanding sphere of the explosion because no air friction means the debris would gain velocity and not lose it!
If you put your foot on top of a firecracker in space, it would explode and you would be propelled away from the explosion. Same principle that a rocket works on!
2006-07-06 14:54:16 · answer #1 · answered by cat_lover 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Most fireworks contain an oxidising agent, so they'd go off even without any air. But in microgravity and the absence of air, burning would be just a whisker slower than on Earth because on Earth the oxygen supply from the oxidiser is augmented by air convection. If you strike a match on the International Space Station, the flame is small and spherical.
2006-07-06 14:38:43 · answer #2 · answered by zee_prime 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to all the other answers, but the fireworks would work the same in space as they do on the ground. The fuse and the explosive material have the oxidizer built in. You would need something to light the fuse that also didn't need external oxygen, such as an electrical igniter. A stick of dynamite would also go boom in space.
2006-07-06 14:35:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fireworks require oxygen for combustion. You would not even be able to light the wick.
2006-07-06 14:10:21 · answer #4 · answered by ape54321 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Saltpeter it quite is between the chemical substances in gunpowder is an oxidizing agent. i have seen an representation of a gun being fired in a vacuum so there is not any reason to believe that the gunpowder in fireworks may react any otherwise in the vacuum of area.
2016-11-01 08:23:39 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing because you oxygen to set them off and there is none in space.
2006-07-06 14:10:01 · answer #6 · answered by Gabe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fire needs oxygen, as does sparks, etc. There is no oxygen in outer space.
2006-07-06 14:10:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To all those who said they would not work, no oxygen, WRONG!
Gunpowder contains its own oxidant. The only thing is that all of them would work like rockets.
2006-07-06 20:45:38 · answer #8 · answered by cogent 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You wouldn't even be able to light the fuses since there is no oxygen.
2006-07-06 14:10:57 · answer #9 · answered by April C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope, burning requires oxygen and no oxygen in space
2006-07-06 14:10:58 · answer #10 · answered by cuckoo meister 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋