Mon Prof Augmenté
How black powder pushes a ball
Age 14 · Chemistry
Black powder does not explode all at once: it burns very fast, and the solid turns into a gas that takes up far more space. That gas has nowhere to go but forward, so its pressure shoves the ball out of the barrel.
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In the picture
- Dark grains of black powder: a small solid that burns
- Hot gas cloud: the burning solid becomes a far larger volume of gas
- Iron ball: pushed along the barrel by the rising pressure
- Inflated bladder: the same amount of powder as gas takes up much more room
Examples
- A firework fountain, where burning powder pushes out sparks and smoke
- A model rocket motor, where burning propellant makes gas that pushes out the back
Key takeaways
- Black powder burns rapidly; it does not detonate.
- A small solid becoming a huge volume of gas creates the pressure that moves the ball.
Quiz: How black powder pushes a ball (Age 14)
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What does black powder do inside the barrel when it is lit?
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What actually pushes the ball along the barrel?
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Why does burning a small amount of powder create so much pressure?
The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.
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