What is the physics behind fireworks (detailed response) ?

Question

no wikipedia please

Answer 1

The physics is called emission line spectrum.

When a metal or metal salt is introduced to a clean burning flame the metal becomes slightly ionized. It absorbs a little energy, as an electron moves to a higher orbit and releases that energy, as a photon of a certain wavelength, as the electron moves back to its ordinary orbit. As all elements have different electron configuration they all produce different spectrums. This property is used to identify elements and is very useful in astronomy. So back to the chemistry.

Fireworks are simple chemical reactions where a fuel burns with an oxidizer. The fuel is usually carbon of some sort, charcoal or lampblack, or something carbonaceus, like different gums or resins. Shellack or red gum for instance. The oxidizer is usually a nitrate or a chlorate. These give of oxygen when heated and enables the fuel to burn. The nitrate or chlorate is the negative ion of a metal salt. If the positive ion is a metal like strontium you will have introduced a metal to a flame. Strontium colours a flame bright red and is for that reason the most common material used to make red stars in fireworks. Copper makes blue, sodium makes yellow, barium and boron makes green etc.

Answer 2

Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind the attacks, coordinated the hijackings of four airliners and flew them into the two World Trade Centers, the Pentagon, and the last crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after the passengers fought back and took it over. Around 3,000 Americans lost their lives. If you think something else is the truth then shame on you. That was the most horrendous day in American history and it has changed us forever.

Answer 3

Google
fireworks physics 1.11 million hits

http://library.thinkquest.org/15384/physics/index.htm
http://cc.oulu.fi/~kempmp/colours.html
http://www.physicscentral.com/news/2002/fireworks.html

Answer 4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firework

Answer 5

Do a search