Dear students Physics is a very beautiful subject to learn. When you feel Physics beyond the equations you will start enjoying it. You can see the applications of Physics in everything around you. In this, I want to explain some of the Physics principles involved in firecrackers.
Let us experience Physics principles involved in some of the firecrackers which everyone would like to crack on Diwali night.
Rocket (Firework)
It works on Newton`s Third Law and laws of Aerodynamics.

When the powder packed in the rocket (firework) burns, it gives off hot exhaust gases that fire backward. The force of the exhaust gases firing backward is like the blast coming out from a rocket engine and creates an equal and opposite "reaction" force that sends the rocket (firework) shooting forward up into the air.

The long wooden stick protruding from the bottom of a rocket shoots in a straight line. The head of a rocket has a pointed "nose cone" to make it faster and more aerodynamic and improve the chance of it going in a straight line.



Ground spinner (Chakri):
It works on torque and conservation of energy.



Matchstick cracker:
These work on friction and the law of conservation of energy.



Cone shape of Flowerpots:
The velocity of any fluid coming from an orifice is inversely proportional to its radius. Smaller the orifice, the higher the velocity. The flower pots are made in the form of a cone because, when the sparkles come from a small hole they will rush out with greater velocities and as the cardboard is burnt out they spread out symmetrically. So it works on the Equation of continuity and Bernoulli’s principle.



Sparkles
Long and very thin Copper rods are used in making sparkles because Copper is a good conductor of heat, it quickly transfers heat from one part to another part. Long rods are used to avoid the burning of our hands.



Law of conservation of Energy:
The chemical energy stored in a firework is converted into light energy, sound energy, and heat energy, and a part is converted into kinetic energy. The total energy of a firework is always conserved before and after the explosion.

The symmetry of Explosion:
We all know that fireworks always make symmetrical explosions, this is due to the conservation of linear momentum. The explosions to the left must be exactly balanced by the explosions to the right.


Start experiencing Physics principles in the things around you.
Happy Physics learning
Venkatesh Panyam
(thephysicsdude)

Note: Opinions expressed by authors are their own.

Pics Source: Pixabay