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Gunpowder burns but it burns very quickly. It's very reactive with oxygen. When enough heat is applied, either externally or from itself, the reaction progresses very rapidly and the gunpowder "explodes."
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Agree in general. Gunpowder consists of a fuel and an oxidizer mixed together- it does not need additional oxygen. The original gunpowder was black powder- a "low" explosive- modern gunpowder is based on nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin- "High" explosives. When triggered by heat, the fuel and oxidizer combine rapidly, producing large quantities of hot, expanding gas. This gas pushes the bullet out of the barrel.
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JordanIn its simplest form, sulphur, charcoal and potassium nitrate, the sulphur and charcoal combine and burn rapidly, using oxygen released from the potassium nitrate. The resulting expanding gases and solids are what propel the projectile.
Gunpowder is classed as a "low explosive," that is, the shock wave produced from combustion is subsonic.
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What was gunpowder supposed to be?
instead of bullets they had gunpowder.
Where were the barrels of gunpowder stored during the gunpowder plot?
The gunpowder was stored in places like the Tower of London.
How does gun powder work?
Gunpowder burns but it burns very quickly. It's very reactive with oxygen. When enough heat is applied, either externally or from itself, the reaction progresses very rapidly and the gunpowder "explodes."
How did the ancient Chinese rockets work?
The gunpowder tubes were filled with gunpowder, with one end closed and the other end open. A small hole was left for the blasting fuse. When ignited, the gunpowder would burn inside the tube, producing a large amount of gas, which would produce enormous forward propulsion.
How did gunpowder modernize warfare?
check this sight http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder
