• Question: can fireworks be exploded up to space or in

    Asked by SHARON ROSE to Heather, Helen, Hugh, Jane, Julian on 11 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Julian Onions

      Julian Onions answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      Most fireworks only go up a few metres, maybe 50 to 100 or so. Space starts at about 100,000m upwards, so its a long way from getting into space.
      Not that it’s that far, in a car you could drive to space in about an hour or so if you could drive straight up, but fireworks aren’t powerfully enough to get there.

    • Photo: Helen Johnson

      Helen Johnson answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      Fireworks don’t have enough energy to overcome the gravity pulling them back down to Earth. They can get quite high, but a) they begin to lose the force pushing them higher, as the chemical reactions inside slow down and stop, and b) gravity causes them to slow down.
      To overcome the gravity pulling you back down to Earth, you need to be travelling at a speed of : 11,186 m/s or 25,000 miles per hour!

    • Photo: Hugh Osborn

      Hugh Osborn answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      That would be one hell of a powerful rocket! Unfortunately fireworks (and all explosions or fire) cant happen in space as there’s no oxygen for them to burn! So I dont think they’ll be celebrating Guy Fawkes day on the International Space Station any time soon 😀

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