Every fall at the Seoul World Fireworks Festival, a variety of fireworks light up the sky. They create different shapes and colors depending on the placement of stars and metal elements, and they use flash powder and aluminum to control the sound. These techniques provide a spectacular visual and auditory treat, and they also have a positive impact on the local economy.
Every fall in South Korea, the Seoul World Fireworks Festival is held at the Han River Park in Yeouido. When I think of the word “firecracker,” I see a picture in my head of the loud, booming, colorful sparklers I saw this summer while walking around the beach. Some were tall, circular, and starry, some were very large, and some were small. Different types of firecrackers emitted different colors and had different explosions. But how do firecrackers come in different shapes and sizes, emit different colors, and make different sounds?
This festival is much more than just fireworks. It’s a cultural experience in itself, as thousands of people gather together to gaze up at the sky and admire the brilliant fireworks. Fireworks experts from Korea and around the world come together to show off their skills, and it’s fascinating to see the different fireworks techniques and designs from different countries. It is a festival that can be enjoyed by everyone from children to adults, making it a festival for all generations.
Before we get into the details, it’s important to understand how firecrackers work. Firecrackers are made up of a shell casing that contains a time fuse, a break charge, and a star. When the lift charge is ignited and the firecracker rises, the fuse acts as a timer to set the firecracker off at the desired height, igniting the break charge at the appropriate time. The break charge then ignites the star, scattering it and causing the firecracker to explode. The reason firecrackers can take on so many different shapes has to do with the placement of the stars. Once the stars are arranged in the desired shape, the shape of the firecracker is determined. For example, if you want the firecracker to explode in a star shape, you can place the stars in a ☆ shape inside the shell. You can also control the size of the firecracker by adjusting the amount of active material in the shell. If the amount of active material is high, the force of pushing the star will be much greater and the size of the firecracker will be larger. On the other hand, if the amount is low, the pushing force will be weaker, resulting in a smaller firework.
The colorful appearance of fireworks is due to the different types of metals in the star. The reason why matter glows is related to the electrons it has. When an electron transitions from an electron shell with a higher valence to a lower one, it emits light equal to the difference in energy between the two shells. If the light emitted is in the visible wavelength range, we can observe it. However, different substances have different energy levels in their electron shells, so the wavelength of visible light emitted is different. Therefore, different types of substances emit different colors of light when they react with fireworks. This is why fireworks can be made in different colors by combining different metals, such as strontium (Sr) compounds to produce red, sodium (Na) to produce yellow, and copper (Cu) to produce turquoise. But why use metallic elements? It has to do with the wavelength of light they emit. The wavelength of light emitted by non-metallic elements when they undergo electron transfer is not in the visible region, so if only metal elements are present, the desired color can be obtained regardless of the presence of non-metallic elements.
The color of fireworks is also an important factor in setting the mood of a festival. For example, red and gold firecrackers emphasize glamor and grandeur, while blue and green firecrackers are calming and mysterious. Using these different colors in the right combination can evoke a variety of emotions in your audience. The combination of colors sets the theme of the fireworks display and helps the audience become more engaged.
In addition to the visual aspect of fireworks, the aural aspect of fireworks is also a big part of the experience. There are many different sounds that firecrackers can make, such as a small popping sound or a grand explosion. This is determined by the salute. A salute is a firecracker that explodes without producing a flame, and it’s a very simple device that consists of a black powder charge in a paper canister and a fuse. Mixing finely ground titanium with a rapidly burning oxidizer creates a powder called flash powder. This powder acts as a rapid amplifier of heat and pressure. At 0 degrees Celsius, the speed of sound is 331 m/s. In air, the speed of sound waves increases by 0.6 m/s for every 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature. Sound waves are also small waves (longitudinal waves) that travel through air particles. An acoustic wave is a wave in which the direction of vibration of the medium in which the wave is traveling is consistent with the direction of the wave. When sound waves are transmitted as small waves, there are places where the medium is denser and places where it is less dense. Therefore, the pressure increases in places where the air particles are denser, and the pressure decreases in places where the air particles are less dense. The magnitude of this pressure change is called the sound pressure, and a large sound pressure is loud. In other words, as the temperature of the flash powder increases, the sound of the firecracker explosion travels farther and faster, and as the pressure increases, the sound pressure increases, making the firecracker sound louder to people. In this way, the loudness of the sound is controlled and the auditory aspect of fireworks is controlled. In addition to the loudness of the sound, aluminum (Al) in the firecrackers can make them sound like they are burning, and holes in them can make them sound like they are whistling. These are some of the ways that you can hear the different sounds when watching fireworks.
The Seoul World Fireworks Festival is not just about the technical aspects of fireworks, but also about social and cultural significance. Every year, millions of people gather to watch the festival, which is an important opportunity for people to interact and enjoy each other’s company in the modern world. These large-scale events also have a positive impact on the local economy, providing a great opportunity for local merchants. During the festival, the surrounding shops and restaurants are crowded with visitors, which contributes to the local economy. In addition, these festivals are an important way for Korea to showcase its culture and technology to the world. For tourists from abroad, it’s a unique opportunity to experience Korea’s fireworks culture, which also plays a big role in enhancing the country’s image.
In conclusion, the Seoul World Fireworks Festival is more than just a fireworks display. It’s a combination of technology, art, and social interaction. The brilliant colors and diverse sounds of the fireworks bring visual and auditory pleasure to the audience, and the festival allows people to relieve the stress of everyday life, come together, and have fun. We hope that these festivals will continue to be held in the future, bringing new experiences to people with more advanced technology and creative ideas.
