What is the amount of energy released from an exploding firecracker?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around estimating the amount of energy released from an exploding firecracker, exploring both theoretical and experimental approaches to measure this energy. Participants consider various methods, including practical experiments and theoretical calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Experimental/applied, Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests defining a "standard size firecracker" as a starting point for discussion.
  • Another proposes conducting an experiment using a pendulum setup to measure the energy released by the explosion, referencing gravitational potential energy and momentum conservation.
  • A different participant challenges the feasibility of focusing the explosion in the proposed experiment, citing potential errors that could significantly affect the results.
  • One participant mentions using standard enthalpy tables as a means to estimate the energy release and suggests that a calorimeter might be the best experimental method to measure the energy from the firecracker explosion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the practicality of experimental methods, with some supporting the idea of using a pendulum and others questioning its accuracy. There is no consensus on the best approach to measure the energy released.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential limitations in experimental setups, including significant error margins and the need for precise definitions of the firecracker used.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those involved in experimental physics, chemistry, or anyone curious about energy measurements in explosive reactions.

Sack Boy
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Let's say the standard size firecracker if there is a standard.
 
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What about doing an experiment? Make a pendulum with a little cup on the end and set the firecracker in their and try to focus the explosion so it will rotate the pendulum ,
Then measure the change in height of the pendulum . mgh is the gravitational potential energy. Ballistic pendulum idea or do something with momentum conservation.
 
cragar said:
and try to focus the explosion

Nope. Too many losses, would introduce errors on the order of 50% or more.
 
Using standard enthalpy tables will get you quite close to the answer.

Perhaps the best experimental approach is to make the firecracker explode in a calorimeter. Some ideas are probably mentioned in this book: http://www.springerlink.com/content/x40850v6628r6270/
 

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