In celebration of the 4th, here are some useless facts you can share with your family and friends while at the BBQ's this weekend.
-Legend has it that the Chinese made the first fireworks in the 800s, filling bamboo shoots with gunpowder and exploding them at the new year with the hope that the sound would scare away evil spirits.
-The first recorded firework in American history were set off by captain John Smith, famous for the story of Pocahontas.......' Just around the river bend......' (For you Disney fans)
- 3 sparklers burning together generate the same amount of heat as a blowtorch
- The worlds largest firework was set off at a festival in Japan in 1988. The shell weighted over half a ton and the burst was over a kilometer wide
Color information from Factmonster.com
Early fireworks were enjoyed more for the sound than the show—in its simplest forms gunpowder explodes quickly, leaving a terrific bang but not much to see other than a rather brief golden glow. Over time people discovered that using chemical compounds with greater amounts of oxygen made the explosives burn brighter and longer. The multi-hued displays we know now began in the 1830s, when Italians added trace amounts of metals that burn at high temperatures, creating beautiful colors. Other additives also produced interesting effects. For example, calcium deepens colors, titanium makes sparks, and zinc creates smoke clouds.
Science Project Time
Also, did you know that on about.com - chemistry they actually tell you how to make your own sparkler! I just need to go the store and pick up 300 parts of potassium chlorate and make my 10% dextrin in water solution.
Have a happy 4th
1 comment:
You are so random, I love it.
About the toenail polish -- it's literally a powder you put on the toes, then let set under the little nail dryer. Beyond that, that's all I know. My nail lady does them here in Logansport, so I've got to think if she has it - the rest of real world must. If not, come here! It lasts 6-10 weeks.
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