Holidays – Lichtenberger Engineering Library

Jul 02 2019

It’s the 4th of July!!

Posted on July 2, 2019July 2, 2019 by Carol Johnk

Summer is here!!

What can be more summer-like than the 4^th of July, picnics, parades and, most of all, fireworks!

Fireworks have a long and (yes, I’ll say it) colorful history. Fireworks go back as far as 7^th century China. In 1292 Marco Polo took fireworks back to Italy where the Italians began to develop them as an art form. Settlers brought fireworks to the Americas in the 1600s, and the very first 4^th of July celebration with fireworks was in 1777 – a year after the Declaration of Independence was signed. The earliest patents for fireworks go back as far as 1876.

There are a multitude of different fireworks, but they all fall into three distinct categories. Aerial fireworks include mortars, bottle rockets and Roman candles. Proximate fireworks are often used indoors for concerts, theatrical presentations and movies. Ground-based fireworks include the familiar firecrackers, snakes, smoke bombs, and sparklers.

As you are sitting there in the dark, or lying on your back on a blanket and ooohing and aaahing over the amazing color, have you ever wondered what goes into creating those effects? Well, the beautiful colors of the fireworks come from various chemical compounds: red is strontium and lithium; blue is copper; silver or white is burning aluminum titanium and magnesium; orange is calcium; yellow is sodium; green is barium; and the neon green and turquoise are chlorine with barium or copper. Chemicals also affect the appearance of fireworks. Love those sparkly fireworks? Aluminum creates that effect! Glitter comes from antimony, calcium deepens the color, phosphorous creates glow in the dark effects and the smoke effects come from zinc.

Now cover your ears, here comes the noise! Sound is also influenced by the chemicals used and by the shape of the firework tube. Perhaps surprisingly, the whistle effect is second only to flash powders in being the most hazardous firework effect. Whistle combinations consist of potassium chlorate or potassium perchlorate as the oxidizer, with a salt of benzoic acid or a substituted benzoic acid. You’ll notice you see the fireworks before you hear the booms. That’s because light travels about a million times faster than sound. Those loud booms are actually sonic booms caused by the expansion of gases. You can calculate how far from the fireworks you are by counting the seconds from the time you see the firework until you hear the boom. To figure the distance in miles simply multiply the number of seconds by .o2.

There are, not surprisingly, many safety regulations surrounding the production and handling of fireworks. Before safety regulations were enacted there were many accidents which resulted in casualties. When the Treaty of Aix-la Chapelle was signed in 1748 celebrations were held all over Europe. The celebration in Paris had a mass explosion which led to the death of 40 people and over 300 injuries. It was 1875 before the Explosives Act was introduced. The current Federal Explosives Law and Regulations is from 2012. Each state also regulates the use and availability of fireworks. Go here to check the fireworks control laws in your state.

There are also interesting regulations for the storage of fireworks. One of the hazards of storing fireworks is static electricity. Staff working in explosive buildings should not wear synthetic clothing or non-conducting footwear. Personnel should also discharge themselves before entering the building with an electrostatic discharger. There are also regulations for conduction, anti-static flooring and the humidification of the room. I found this information interesting and, dare I say, shocking!

Remember the Treaty of Aix-la Chapelle, back in 1748? George Frederick Handel was commissioned to write an overture for the London celebration of the treaty. He wrote Music for the Royal Fireworks, and this began the tradition of association between music and fireworks. For more information about creating fireworks displays and their environmental impact, check out Fireworks displays: explosive entertainment, by Dr. Tom Smith.

Here’s a video of the Overture – complete with fireworks!

In Iowa, fireworks were banned in 1937, following two incidents. In Spencer someone lit fireworks in a store where they were being sold. That 1931 fire destroyed most of the downtown. Then, in 1936, a similar fire in Remen caused about $600,000 in damages. Iowa’s ban included all fireworks except sparklers, toy snakes and caps. The laws have changed since 1937 – be sure to check with the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) for current information.

Want to try to make your own (safe) fireworks for the 4^th of July? Make: has instruction for making your own Soda Bottle Rocket LED Fireworks! Check out Make: v.41 (2014:Oct./Nov.) or the Make website. The website includes a video of the Soda Bottle Rockets being launched at night!

When you are out celebrating and watching the displays and listening to the whistles and the booms, please be mindful of your neighbors and those around you. The United States Marine Corp has a webpage dedicated to raising awareness of how fireworks can affect veterans with PTSD. They aren’t asking that you forego your festivities, but be aware of where you are and what time of the day – or night – you are shooting off your fireworks.

Please be aware of the effects fireworks have on pets. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), has information on ways to keep your pets happy and healthy during the festivities. There is info on how to care for your pet during the celebration and also includes tips on preparation and cleanup after the celebration.

Have a fun and safe 4th of July holiday!

Resources:

Agrawal, J. P. (Jai Prakash). 2010. High energy materials : propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics. Weinheim : Wiley-VCH. Engineering Library TP267.5 .A57 2010

Smith, Thomas A.K. 2011. Firework displays : explosive entertainment. [Revere, MA] : Chemical Pub. Co. Engineering Library TP300 .F57 2011

Conkling, John A. Chemistry of pyrotechnics : basic principles and theory. 2nd Edition. 2011. Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press. Engineering Library TP300 .C65 2011.

Soltis, Greg. When was the 4th of July first celebrated. Nov. 28, 2012. LiveScience. Date Accessed: July 2019

Types of fireworks. FireworksLand. Date Accessed: July 2019

Wolcher, Natalie. How do fireworks make shapes. July 1, 2011. LiveScience. Date Accessed;: July 2019

Allain, Rhett. The awesome physics in a simple sparkler. July, 4, 2014. Wired. Date Accessed: July 2019

Helmenstine, Anne Marie. Chemistry of firework colors. Feb. 20, 2015. About Education. Date Accessed: July 2019

Helmenstine, Anne Marie. Elements in fireworks. Dec. 5, 2014. About Education. Date Accessed: July 2019

Pappas, Stephanie. 5 fantastic fireworks facts. July 1, 2012. Live Science. Date Accessed: July 2019

Wolchover, Natalie. How do fireworks make shapes. July 1, 2011. Live Science. Date Accessed: July 2019

De Antonis, Kathy. Fire. October 2010. ChemMatters. Date Accessed;:July 2019

McLeod, Stacey. 10 fun facts you probably didn’t know about fireworks. Cottage Life.Date Accessed: July 2019

How much does Disney spend annually for fireworks? Disneyquestions.com Date Accessed: May 2015. (not available as of 10/10/18)

ATF Federal explosives law and regulations. 2012. U.S. Department of Justice. Date Accessed: July 2019

2019 State Fireworks Control Laws. American Pyrotechnics Association. Date Accessed: June 19, 2019

Fireworks and PTSD: How to Raise Awareness. MCCS Forward. Date Accessed: June 19, 2019

Firework photos by Carol Johnk at the Coralville, IA 4th of July celebrations through the years.

More Resources:

Philip, Chris. A bibliography of firework books : works on recreative fireworks from the sixteenth to the twentieth century. 1985. Wincester, Hampshire : Published by C. Philip, in association with St. Paul’s Bibliographies. Main Library Z5885 .P48 1985

Russell, Michael S. The chemistry of fireworks. 2009. Cambridge, UK : RSC Pub. Engineering Library TP300 .R$87 2009.

The sound of fireworks – whistles. 2015. Learn Chemistry, Royal Society of Chemistry. Date Accessed: July 2019

Fireworks Glossary. UK Firework Review.Date Accessed: July 2019

The Unexcelled Fireworks Company. July 2, 2013. Letterology. Date Accessed: July 2019

“Underwater fireworks” reaction of chlorine and acetylene. December 17, 2012. YouTube. Date Accessed: July 2019

The awesome physics in a simple sparkler. July 4, 2014. WIRED. Date Accessed: July 2019

Feb 11 2019

Create a Valentine’s Pop-Up Card!

Posted on February 11, 2019February 11, 2019 by Carol Johnk

Come join us at our next Learn & Create Workshop!

Learn paper folding and create your own fun and unique greeting cards! We’ll be working on special Valentine’s cards, but you can take what you learn and make special cards for every occasion! It will be held February 12^th at 2:30 pm in the Engineering Library Creative Space!

Deanne Wortman, Program Manager, NEXUS of Engineering and the Arts, Engineering Student Services, will be teaching the art of paper folding and helping you create your own special card!

The workshop is FREE, but registration is limited (we need to make sure we have enough materials on hand), so, register today! For more information on this great workshop and all the upcoming workshops go here: https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/eng/2019-spring-learn-create-workshops/

We look forward to seeing you – and what you create!

Jul 01 2016

Holiday Hours for the 4th of July!

Posted on July 1, 2016December 2, 2016 by Carol Johnk

Happy 4th of July!!

We will be CLOSED on Monday, July 4!

We will reopen at 8:30 on Tuesday, July 5

Have a fun and safe holiday!!

Nov 20 2015

What is Thanksgiving Without Cranberries!?

Posted on November 20, 2015November 22, 2016 by Carol Johnk

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Opening a bag of cranberries can take you right back to Thanksgiving with your loved ones and that traditional cranberry dish. But have you ever wondered about how cranberries became associated with holidays? Wondered how they are grown? Or thought about their health benefits?

The simple cranberry is one of the few fruits that is native to North America. No one knows for sure how it became associated with the holidays, but it is believed it goes back to the Native Americans and the first Thanksgiving meals. Cranberries are generally harvested between Labor Day and Halloween and they store well, all of which makes them a perfect fruit for the holidays.

Native Americans also used the cranberry as a source of red dye for decorations, and also medicinally. Cranberries have an astringent tannis and therefore can help stop wounds from bleeding. Cranberries also have an antibiotic effect.

There are some species of cranberries that grow wild in Europe, but the cranberry most cultivated as a commercial crop is the one that is native to America. Cranberry cultivation began in 1840 in Massachusetts when Henry Hall noticed that the cranberries were most abundant where the ground was sandiest. From there the cultivation spread through Wisconsin, Washington, and Oregon. The cultivation of cranberries also spread to Scandinavia and Great Britain. Interestingly, they arrived in Holland as a result of a shipwreck of an American ship. The crates washed ashore on the small island of Terschelling and cranberries have been cultivated there ever since!

The cranberry is often considered a “super food,” due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content. And the fact that a half a cup of cranberries only has 25 calories! Cranberries have several important health benefits. They are known to help prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). There is evidence that the polyphenols in cranberries may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by preventing platelet build-up and anti-inflammatory mechanisms help reduce blood pressure. It has also been shown that the humble cranberry may slow tumor progression and to have positive effects against prostate, liver, breast, ovarian and colon cancers. They are a great source of vitamin C, fiber, and vitamin E. They also contain vitamin K, manganese and naturally occurring plant chemicals that help protect the body from free radicals. A lot of health benefits for such a little berry!

And yes, the TV commercial is accurate – the farmers really do stand in the cranberry bogs in hip waders. However, cranberries don’t grow in water, they grow on long-running vines in sandy bogs and marshes.

The harvesting process is quite fascinating! In late September, when the berries ripen, the bogs are flooded with water and the berries want to float to the surface. Since they are still tethered by their long vines, the farmers take machines, sometimes called “Beaters,” into the bog. The Beaters create underwater turbulence which pulls the berries from the stem. Then farmers wade in and corral the freed berries into a corner of the bog. A pump then sucks the berries out of the bog and transfers them to a truck. They are taken to a factory where they undergo several cleaning stations, including one in which workers use brooms and water jets to clear away remaining branches and leaves.

If the cranberries are destined to become juice, part of the process includes them moving through 216 filters which remove any plant particles and bacteria that are larger than a micron. A micron is about 25,000 times smaller than an inch… The presses can make almost 9 tons of puree at a time – that’s about the weight of 1^1/2 elephants…

Cranberries that don’t become juice go through a grading process which includes workers removing substandard berries – by hand. A sorting machine then scans the berries for color and substandard berries are blown off the production line with an air gun. Those that make it through these tests go on to either be packaged or dried. Dried cranberries are cut in half, seeded, pressed and then soaked in a sugar and water solution before they are dried.

The cranberry is quite versatile – there are many different cranberry recipes, including cranberry relish, cranberry sauce, cranberry bread, cranberry bars, cranberry jelly, cranberry pies, cranberry punch… And, yes, recipes for “white chocolate, macadamia and cranberry cookies”…

Now, when you gather for Thanksgiving, whether it be with friends or family, you can prepare a unique cranberry dish – one that may become a new tradition. You’ll also be able to share your new knowledge of the humble cranberry.

Even if you still have to sit at the kids’ table…

Resources:

How it’s made (television program). Season 1-2. 2010. [Silver Spring, MD] : Discovery Communications. Engineering Library Circulation Desk Video Record 37144 DVD

Cranberries: Health Benefits, Health Risks. June 24, 2015. MNT. Medical News Today. MediLexicon.

Cranberries. What’s New and Beneficial About Cranberries. 2001-2015. The World’s Healthiest Foods. The George Mateljan Foundation.

Cranberry Recipes. 2015. Allrecipes.com

Other Resources:

USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 28. Basic Report: 09078, Cranberries, raw. Accessed November 18, 2015.