By Mekgineer Davvi DolittleHello everyone! How are you? I hope you're doing well! If you're reading this article, then, you must have an interest in building all sorts of super neat machines and gadgets to make the lives of you, your friends and family much easier and more fun! Unless, you don't like engineering and are reading it by mistake. Either way, welcome! We hope you like what you read! I'm excited!
The Art of Pyrotechnics: Fireworks Fireworks Fireworks!!!
In my past articles, I've covered lots and lots of general topics, like tools or safety, or specializations, and those topics have all been real important for the new engineers out there! However, today, in honor of this month's Lunar Festival, I thought that I should talk about something real specific, and SUPER amazing! Can you guess what it is? They're something that you see a LOT of at this time of year, but also, you see them a lot during the summer months too! They come in all sorts of colors and types, and they're SUPER fun, but can also be SUPER dangerous if you try to handle them without special training! Can you guess yet? They fly high into the sky and explode! How about now? Yes? Great! Of course, they're fireworks, and they're one of my favorite things in the whole world! If I seem excited, it's because fireworks are an art as well a a science, and come in as many sizes, shapes and colors as you can imagine! They are just as fun to make as they are to set off and to watch, and as long as you know how to be safe, you too can have just as much fun with pyrotechnics as I do!
What are Pyrotechnics?
Now, people aren't quite sure who first invented fireworks, otherwise known as “pyrotechnics.” Some people say, that they were brought to Azeroth by the Titans, or, were created by their guardian Mimiron, and some other people even say that a group of mythical bear people invented them, but the theory that most people and I believe is that the Night Elves invented them long long ago! In any case, the night elves have been making and setting off fireworks for years and years, to celebrate special events like the Lunar Festival or parties, or to scare away evil spirits and bring luck to the people who see them! It is not known if Gnomes and Goblins first learned about fireworks from the Night Elves, or if they made their own innovations in pyrotechnics independently, but what is known is that over time, Gnomish and Goblin Engineers alike have found ways to create larger, more elaborate fireworks displays while also introduced new means of propulsion and coloring to the explosive devices. As a result, the pyrotechnic displays of the past decade have been bigger and more wonderfully, awesomely spectacular than ever before!
The Three Grades of Pyrotechnics:
History aside, you may say, “Davvi! I know that fireworks are super amazing and now, I know a little bit about their history, but, what exactly are fireworks made of? How many different types are there?” Those are very good questions! Firstly, there are different classes of fireworks, based on how explosive and dangerous they are, and there are many many different types as well! At the lowest level, Grade C, you would find the types of pyrotechnic devices that are safe for most people to use themselves, like smoke bombs, that aren't really bombs at all and puff out clouds of colored smoke when lit, or sparklers, that shoot out bright but harmless spark showers away from the wielder. Slightly more dangerous are firecrackers, which consist of tiny paper tubes filled with gunpowder that explode with a loud, cracking report, as well as fountains and bottle rockets, which shoot out tall fountains of colorful sparkles, or shoots high into the sky with a whistling sound! Other examples of low-grade fireworks include pinwheels, Elune's Candles, skyrockets and Catherine's Wheels. What all these fireworks have in common, is that the amount of explosive materials contained in each is considered minimal and stable enough that they pose little threat to health and safety of users, PROVIDED they are careful and responsible!!!
Grade B fireworks are the kind you think of when you think of fireworks displays, and are another matter entirely. They are the kind that pyrotechnic professionals spend years studying, and are the kind that should never EVER be handled by amateurs! What makes Grade B fireworks Grade B, is that they contain a large amounts of explosive compounds, used to both propel them high into the sky, and burst into explosive color while they're up there! Of this type of firework there are three main varieties, ground-effects, like large fountain-works, missiles, which launch into the sky under their own power, and aerial shells, which require mortars or other special launching devices. These are the fireworks that fireworks spectaculars are made of, and boy are they ever spectacular!
The final grade, Grade A, while they are TECHNICALLY classified as fireworks, are really what you might call ordinance. This grade includes special, extremely high-yield, weaponized fireworks that have been developed by Gnomish and Goblin Engineers for the Alliance and the Horde. Did you know, that explosives like the Big One, the Bigger One and the Gnomish Flame Turret are all actually derived from Gnomish and Goblin pyrotechnics programs! It's true! Needless to say, while spectacular in their own ways, these sorts or fireworks aren't meant for public viewing and enjoyment.
How Fireworks are Made:
Now, I'm not going to go and tell you here how to make a firework, because making pyrotechnic devices is SUPER delicate work that can get DANGEROUS when you try to rush or cut corners! A newspaper articles isn't the place try and teach people how to makes explosives anyway! What I can tell you, is the basic composition of your standard firework, to give you an idea of how they are supposed to be put together. The first ingredient of fireworks is of course, fire, by which I mean, a fuel that is sure to burn bright and steady! Many times, this fuel can be a variety of gun or blasting powder, but for the more spectacular devices, eternal, or even volatile elements may be needed! Combined with this explosive material is always a binder and stabilizer, additional chemicals meant to both make the firework fuel burn brighter and longer, and to hold everything together in one solid pellet or cake. Mixed in with this explosive mixture are also the SUPER mineral or chemical compounds necessary to give fireworks all their wonderful colors and dazzling effects! Together, all these varied elements are packed CAREFULLY into a paper or pasteboard tube, and fitted with a fuse or wick for lighting.
FIREWORKS SAFETY:
Now, this last part is the MOST SUPER IMPORTANT of all! If you are going to make fireworks, user fireworks, or even go SEE fireworks, you can have a super great time and have lots of fun, but you MUST be SUPER CAREFUL! As spectacular and amazing as fireworks are, they are still explosives, and can burn, injure or kill you if handled improperly! If you should decide to make fireworks, be sure that your have received the proper instruction from a licensed fireworks engineer! If you are using fireworks yourself, make sure that you hold them away from your body, clothes, hair or fur! NEVER EVER point fireworks at anybody, and NEVER EVER let children play with fireworks, even sparklers, unsupervised! If you and your friends and your children are at a fireworks show, BE SURE to stay well behind whatever safety perimeter the pyrotechnics engineers have set up! They are trying to keep you safe, and make sure that you enjoy the show!
When it comes to fireworks and pyrotechnics extravaganzas, bigger is always better! Fireworks have a long and interesting history, and the engineers and fireworks artists of today are still working hard to improve on them! If you do decide to use or watch fireworks this Moon Festival, please be sure to BE CAREFUL, and have a SUPER GREAT time! Be well, and, enjoy the rest of this fine publication!
