Science Fair Projects With Fireworks

Science fair projects with fireworks sound like a lot of fun, but they take extra work to keep you safe during the execution of your project. So before you start thinking about what you want to blow up, let's quickly go over the safety precautions you need to take.

1. First of all you must work with one of your parents or a responsible adult at ALL TIMES.
   This is MOST IMPORTANT because explosives are dangerous.
2. It is illegal for kids, and often adults, to purchase fireworks. I know that in the state of Illinois we are not allowed to purchase them. So check the law before even considering doing a project on this subject.
3. Call up your local fire department and find out what the law is in your community.
4. If the law permits, a parent is present at all times, and you check with your local fire department to find out your local laws, then make sure you have a fire extinguisher or a hose nearby.
5. Next since you will be working with a form of explosives you will need to wear safety glasses and pull your hair back from your face and neck.
6. Finally, you will want to work outside away from anything flammable, grassy area, houses or people.

Science fair projects with fireworks come in all shapes and sizes, however, one very interesting experiment looks at what happens with a firework is exploded underwater. The purpose of this experiment is to (1) chart the water solubility of the gun powder used, (2) determine what byproducts are produced by the fireworks and (3) examine the shock wave created by the fireworks' explosion. For this chemistry science fair experiment you will need a large, thick plastic bucket that is see through, a video camera, water, matches and fireworks that are capable of exploding underwater.

There is a lot of talk about scientists developing eco-friendly, green pyrotechnics which includes fireworks. But so far it has just been talk and no show.

To execute this experiment you will set up your camera to document the explosion and aftermath, light your fireworks and drop them into the bucket of water. Then stand back. Watch what happens when the fireworks explode. Note what you smell, if there was smoke, what color it was and what damage was sustained by the bucket. Next review the video tape to see how the water reacted to the explosion. You may need to play the video back in slow motion to see everything that happened. Try to chart the progress of the shock wave and secondary shock waves. Explain your observations. For example, what gases were responsible for the smells produced by the explosion?

Now that your experiment is completed you are ready to put together your own chemistry science fair projects with fireworks. You can modify the above experiment or you can come up with your own 24 hour science fair projects. Some topics you can explore include creating different colored fireworks, creating different firework effects and designing safer fireworks for kids.

Unless you are already a pyro-professional, you will most likely need to do some background research for your project. To start with examine the history of fireworks and how they were developed. You may also want to look at how fireworks, which were designed for entertainment, lead to the development of modern weapons in Europe which changed the course of history and the way in which wars were waged. Other area of interest that you will want to explore include how fireworks are made, what chemical reactions are responsible for various fireworks effects and what safety measures you need to use when working with fireworks.

The first step in designing an experiment that features fireworks is to create a focused hypothesis. Your experiment's design will then need to produce data that will answer the question asked by your hypothesis or that will produce data that can be used to support your hypothesis or null hypothesis. Finally, you will want to utilize what you have learned so far about fireworks to design a safe, fun and entertaining science fair project. While fun is inevitable, remember that fireworks are not toys and you can get hurt, so take the precautions that are necessary to prevent injuries and damage to property.

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