Fireworks illustrate energy transformation as well as the conservation of momentum. To project the explosives up requires conversion of chemical energy to kinetic energy. The kinetic energy is used to overcome gravity and is converted to potential energy in the process. During the explosion, chemical energy is converted to mostly light, heat and sound. The symmetry the fragments display is a consequence of the conservation of momentum. The sum of the momenta before and after explosion is zero. Gravity makes the projectiles follow an inverted parabola. According to the "Big Bang Model" our universe may be viewed as a remnant of a spectacular and mysterious firework that took place about 15 billion years ago. |
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SPRING 2012 PHYSICS COURSES Dr. Mesgun Sebhatu
Dr. Ponn Mahes
Mr. T.J. Lipinski
Dr. David Whitely
Ms. Kristeeen Kull
Our Department offers:an Applied Physics MinorA Pre-engineering Program.
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