Large public celebrations, rock concerts, and sporting events, like the Winter Olympics, all use massive fireworks displays to wow the crowd. Behind the scenes, pyrotechnic experts need to have a keen understanding of physics, chemistry and even psychology to ensure fireworks explode safely with the right colour, sound and timing. Anthony Lealand, from Firework Professionals, takes Ruth Beran on a tour of his pyrotechnic facility in Christchurch, and explains the science behind fireworks, how they are manufactured, and demonstrates some of the different sounds they make.
20 Feb 2014
