The art and science of fireworks

Those awe-inspiring shows of colorful explosives and combustibles known as pyrotechnics are a marvelous blend of chemistry, physics, and the aesthetic value of colored light and intense sound. The experience of author Bianco in assisting with the execution of an electronically fired show, in which some 584 pyrotechnic devices were detonated, prompted a talk at the 2000 AAPT Winter Meeting and this note.