You know they look pretty, you know they sound smashing (and they're really, really loud). But just what makes fireworks work? Sure, someone lights them, then quickly runs away.

But what's the real deal?

There are two main types of fireworks: force-and-spark and flame.

Force-and-sparks are made from a combination of potassium nitrate, sulfur and finely ground charcoal, with additional ingredients that produce various types of sparks.

Flame fireworks, such as the stars that are shot out of rockets, need potassium nitrate, salts of antimony and sulfur.

The most popular form of firework, the rocket, gets up in the air by recoiling from the jet of fire that it throws out; its case is designed to combust as much as possible, which means that the rocket achieves maximum thrust in its earliest stage.

For a more colorful explanation, visit HowStuffWorks.

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