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How Do Fireworks Work?

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Many people enjoy the stunning lighting show that fireworks put to the world. But, few people know how difficult it is to design the lighting shows that we are familiar with and love. Everything from the direction that each light ray travels to the color it reflects is designed by hand , with the aim of providing the most amazing impression possible.

In the context of colours, let’s speak about two main mechanisms that are responsible for the production of colors in fireworks including incandescence and luminescence. We’ll also talk about the different materials that are used to create different colors to help you understand the concept of what is required to create different colors in fireworks.

The Luminescence

Luminescence revolves around the light created not directly through heat but by other means. In other words, luminescence is a type of cold light that occurs at much lower temperatures in comparison to incandescent light , which is created directly from heat. In fact, it can be created at room temperatures.

How does it work within the actual world? Everything boils down the atoms. It is possible to create luminescence by giving an atom the ability to absorb energy. In the case of firework could be the radiation that excites the atom. The atom then begins to emit energy in the form of photons, which our eyes pick up and translate into light. The color of that photon however, depends on the wavelength that is directly affected due to the intensity of that photon.

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Incandescence

As we have mentioned that luminescence is the process of an atom absorption energy and sending it out as photons. This is distinct from incandescence, where light is created directly from heat. As objects get hotter, they start to glow, typically emitting specific lights such as yellow, orange, red then white, the most powerful type of light.

With fireworks, such glow is controlled through careful design and use of various substances to allow the fireworks to reach the desired temperature to create a distinct glow. These substances used to produce glows are titanium and aluminum that both raise its temperature in the firework considerably and causes the glow to grow bright which illuminates your night skies.

The chemical compounds that give color

Now that we have talked about luminescence as well as incandescence, let’s explore the various components that produce various colours. This will give you an idea of the material used to create the light shows we recognize and enjoy and also help you understand what is required for the production of specific colors.

Red fireworks are generally created by using strontium or lithium salts. Green is made from barium compounds that are mixed with chlorine producer to keep the compound in place. White is made by incandescence by using aluminium. This causes the glow to become extremely bright. Blue can be created using copper compounds. They can also be mixed in with the chlorine maker to make the color. Finally, yellow is created through sodium nitrate and various sodium compounds.

For every other color in between, a combination of two hues is employed to produce specific results. For instance, purple requires the chemicals that produce red and green. In any case, you can observe how complex it is be to create certain colours and also to time their burning as well as their direction to make the light shows even more spectacular.

Conclusion

As you will see, the chemical process behind fireworks can be complex. It requires a lot of patience and experience to create top quality fireworks. And for the majority of these high-quality fireworks, this is evident in the cost. This is why when you’re looking for the top of the best fireworks to illuminate the night, we highly recommend purchasing the most expensive fireworks. It’s not just due to the magnitude or complexity of the firework, but also the amount of effort that the manufacturer puts into it to ensure it delivers the best possible experience!

Galactic Fireworks sells only the finest and most affordable fireworks to customers, ensuring the safety and excitement of everyone! If you’re seeking to purchase fireworks for sale online in the UK get them now from us!