Although all fireworks contain gunpowder, there is a difference in their behavior: some produce loud sounds, while others fly into the sky. During Diwali or other holidays, many enjoy setting off fireworks. Some of them produce a loud noise when burning, while others scatter colorful lights in the sky. There are also fireworks that are placed on the ground and begin to spin in circles, and some simply fly upwards.
However, have you ever wondered why they work differently when using gunpowder and other chemical substances in these fireworks? How does one firework reach the sky while another starts spinning on the ground? The answer lies in the construction of the firework and the chemical process occurring inside it.
People usually assume that fireworks are filled with gunpowder, and an explosion occurs upon ignition. But the construction of each firework is not the same. Different fireworks are created to achieve different effects: some are designed to create sound, others to spread light, and third ones for flying in the air or spinning on the ground. For this, the chemical substances, their quantity, and placement inside the firework are arranged differently. Thus, what the firework will do is determined not only by the gunpowder it contains but also by its overall construction.
Fireworks that fly into the sky are called rockets or aerial fireworks. Inside them is a special system that produces gas upon combustion. This gas quickly exits downwards, creating thrust that pushes the firework upwards. To understand this, consider a simple example: when a balloon is filled with air and released without being tied down, the air exits from one side, and the balloon begins to move in the opposite direction.
A rocket firework works on a similar principle. Scientifically, this corresponds to Newton's third law: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the firework reaches a height, another part of it may burn, creating colorful light and sparkle. This is why various colors and shapes are visible in the sky.
Now let's look at fireworks that spin on the ground. You have probably seen such 'chakris' during Diwali. When ignited, they start spinning rapidly on the ground. A special scientific principle is behind this as well. Inside the chakri, there is a system such that when it burns, gas and hot smoke exit through holes around the edges. When the gas exits from one side, the pressure created by it forces the chakri to rotate in the opposite direction. The continuous release of gas allows the chakri to keep spinning.
To understand this process, you can use the example of a rotating sprayer. When water flows out of it in different directions, it starts to rotate. The chakri operates on a similar principle.
Anar is also a popular Diwali firework. When ignited, it remains on the ground, and sparks and colored light shoot out from it like a fountain. Its construction is such that the hot gas and sparks formed during combustion are directed upwards. However, it lacks the mechanism that would allow it to rise on its own, like a rocket. Therefore, the anar stays in place and creates a fountain of light upwards.
The main function of some fireworks is to create a loud sound. The chemical mixture inside them reacts very quickly. As a result, a hot gas is formed in a very short time, and the pressure in the surrounding air suddenly increases. This sudden activity in the air leads to a sound resembling an explosion. That is, the effect of sound, light, flight, and rotation of the firework depends on its construction and chemical process.
The direct answer is that each firework is created for a specific purpose. In one, there is a provision for gas to exit in one direction, in another, for sparks to be ejected upwards, and in a third, for a reaction that creates a quick sound. Consequently, gunpowder itself does not make the firework fly into the sky or spin on the ground; its operation is determined by its internal construction and the direction of gas release.
