The next time you go to a Fourth of July fireworks display, study the different types of bursts and imagine how they might have been accomplished. You can probably imagine how many of them are done.

The people who make fireworks are really clever. They combine a knowledge of chemistry and physics with artistic ingenuity to produce an infinite variety of fireworks bursts. How do they do it? They change the size, shape, density, composition and placement of the stars within the fireworks shell. By doing this they change the shape,…

Chemistry holds the secrets to the color of a fireworks burst. The colors that you see in the sky are determined by metallic compounds that are deliberately added in very small amounts to the stars when they are manufactured. As the stars burn, the metal atoms absorb energy, become excited and emit a specific color…

An aerial fireworks burst is produced by launching a fireworks shell high into the air, where an explosion occurs. This explosion propels brightly burning particles (known as “stars”) in many directions. Each streak of light in the firework photos on this page is a burning “star” flying through the air. Examine the diagram of a…

Lights, Colors, Sounds, Shapes and Surprises! Why do fireworks displays attract so many people? There are many answers to this question, but most people simply enjoy the bright explosions of light, color and sound. Others enjoy being surprised by the shape and color of the fireworks bursts. These shapes and colors do not happen by…