Gunpowder Facts, History and Description

Gunpowder or black powder is of great historical importance in chemistry. Although it can explode, its principal use is as a propellant. Gunpowder was invented by Chinese alchemists in the 9th century. Originally, it was made by mixing elemental sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter (potassium nitrate). The charcoal traditionally came from the willow tree, but grapevine, hazel, elder, laurel, and pine cones have all been used. Charcoal is not the only fuel that can be used. Sugar is used instead in many pyrotechnic applications. When the ingredients were carefully ground together, the end result was a powder that was called serpentine. The ingredients tended to require remixing prior to use, so making gunpowder was very dangerous. People who made gunpowder would sometimes add water, wine, or another liquid to reduce this hazard since a single spark could result in a smoky fire. Once the serpentine was mixed with a liquid, it could be pushed through a screen to make small pellets, which were then allowed to dry. How Gunpowder Works To summarize, black powder consists of a fuel (charcoal or sugar) and an oxidizer (saltpeter or niter), and sulfur, to allow for a stable reaction. The carbon from the charcoal plus oxygen forms carbon dioxide and energy. The reaction would be slow, like a wood fire, except for the oxidizing agent. Carbon in a fire must draw oxygen from the air. Saltpeter provides extra oxygen. Potassium nitrate, sulfur, and carbon react together to form nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases and potassium sulfide. The expanding gases, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, provide the propelling action. Gunpowder tends to produce a lot of smoke, which can impair vision on a battlefield or reduce the visibility of fireworks. Changing the ratio of the ingredients affects the rate at which the gunpowder burns and the amount of smoke that is produced. Difference Between Gunpowder and Black Powder While black powder and traditional gunpowder may both be used in firearms, the term black powder was introduced in the late 19th century in the United States to distinguish newer formulations from traditional gunpowder. Black powder produces less smoke than the original gunpowder formula. Its worth noting early black powder was actually off-white or tan in color, not black! Charcoal Versus Carbon in Gunpowder Pure amorphous carbon is not used in black powder. Charcoal, while it contains carbon, also contains cellulose from incomplete combustion of wood. This gives charcoal a relatively low ignition temperature. Black powder made from pure carbon would barely burn. Gunpowder Composition There is no single recipe for gunpowder. This is because varying the ratio of the ingredients produces different effects. Powder used in firearms needs to burn at a fast rate to quickly accelerate a projectile. A formulation used as a rocket propellant, on the other hand, needs to burn more slowly because it accelerates a body over a long period of time. Cannon, like rockets, use a powder with a slower burn rate. In 1879, the French prepared gunpowder using 75% saltpeter, 12.5% sulfur, and 12.5% charcoal. The same year, the English used gunpowder made from 75% saltpeter, 15% charcoal, and 10% sulfur. One rocket formula consisted of 62.4% saltpeter, 23.2% charcoal, and 14.4% sulfur. Gunpowder Invention Historians believe gunpowder originated in China. Originally, it was used as an incendiary. Later, it found use as a propellant and explosive. It remains unclear when, exactly, gunpowder made its way to Europe. Basically, this is because records describing the use of gunpowder are difficult to interpret. A weapon that produced smoke might have used gunpowder or could have used some other formulation. The formulas that came into use in Europe closely matched those used in China, suggesting the technology was introduced after it had already been developed. Sources Agrawal, Jai Prakash (2010). High Energy Materials: Propellants, Explosives and Pyrotechnics. Wiley-VCH.Andrade, Tonio (2016). The Gunpowder Age: China, Military Innovation, and the Rise of the West in World History. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-13597-7.Ashford, Bob (2016). A New Interpretation of the Historical Data on the Gunpowder Industry in Devon and Cornwall.  J. Trevithick Soc.  43: 65–73.Partington, J.R. (1999). A History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-5954-0.Urbanski, Tadeusz (1967),  Chemistry and Technology of Explosives,  III. New York: Pergamon Press.

Personal Narrative My Life Of Lean - 1087 Words

Stephen Sanders Dr. Jahan Muhammad AMS 394 Lean Manufacturing My Life of Lean I come from a long line of craftsman’s and only being 31 years of age, I have been really fortunate to stay working and not just working with one job either. Various trades, customizing, production, back braking, you name it I have done. My name is Stephen Sanders II and at 16 years old I practically begged my father to show me the ways of building a custom set of stairs, trim, put crown molding up and base down. Needless to say that my father owned his own custom trim carpentry business. My father had and still has a reputation producing high quality, forever lasting works-of-art. No house was the same but the guarantee was. Now I was part of the pack. Learning the in’s and out’s to carpentry is very valuable and my father would pick up different jobs when he wasn’t covered up with trim work. The jobs would range from weed eating the yard to complete ground-breaking--start to finish on residential and commercial buildings. Learning the necessary carpentry skills comes with its ups and downs. Usually at the beginning of every year through fall. Construction would stay afloat and we usually were covered up with work. When old man winter came, work slowed, sometimes completely come to a stop. Having 5-6 years of training under my belt and now at the ripe age of 23, I know that I couldn’t keep working this way. I couldn’t spread my wings and fly. I wanted a place of my own. I wanted my ownShow MoreRelatedThe Movie Bruce Almighty 906 Words   |  4 Pages† From a personal point of view, the characters are symbolic and bear theological significance. The movie is didactic in quality and carries some tinge of comedy with apparent glimpses of domestic and familial environment. 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King Midas vs. Medusa Essay Example For Students

King Midas vs. Medusa Essay The Battle of the MythsAt first glance all myths might dish out fair punishment to everyone, but whenyou take a closer look at some of the myths you see that some of the gods are sexist. When King Midas offended Apollo the god made it so that everything he touched turnedto gold, but in the end he was forgiven. Medusa was changed from a beautiful youwomen to a hideous one that turned people to stone just by looking at them all becauseshe offended Athena. When comparing these two myths we see the obvious sexisttreatments showed toward Medusa. In the myths, women were treated unjustly, but menlike Midas were forgiven for their wrongdoings. King Midas offend Apollo and then the god made him pay. At first, King Midasthought it as a gift when he found out that everything he touched turned to gold. ThenKing Midas begged for forgiveness and Apollo forgave King Midas him donkey ears. Then when his hairdresser told everyone he had donkey ears King Midas showed mercyApollo forgave him for a second time. Apollo forgave King Midas twice, but Medusawould not be so lucky. When Athena turned Medusa into a horrid beast, she did not forgive her. Medusaoffended Athena by being with Poseidon in her temple and she was turned into creaturethat turns people into stone, which shows how Medusa never received any forgivenessfrom Athena. Then since gods decide fate they had Theseus kill her. Then by having herhead roll along the bottom off the ocean for eternity, which does not show anyforgiveness but more punishment? Medusa was shown no forgiveness for her small deed,and the punishment is no only worse but it is also sexist, which can be seen when they arecompared. Sexism an idea not usually put together with myths is very evident whencomparing King Midas to Medusa. King Midas and Medusa both committed minorcrimes, but Medusa received a much harsher punishment. In the story of King Midas, hewas forgiven not once but twice while Medusa was not forgiven at all. This is a blatantshow of sexism by the gods to Medusa, the women. Unfair treatment toward women isobvious when looking at these stories, but when comparing it to now it has not changedmuch. Since myths help explain what goes on it can be seen that even in ancient timeswomen were treated unjustly. In todays world it is hard to get a fair shot at a job oranything because of the sexist world we liven. These stories display poor values, whichare handed down when they are read to young people. The stories make women seem haslesser people, who deserved to be punished more severely, which is no true. It isimportant to remember that when reading these two stories that even though gods backthen treated women unjustly does not give you the right to now.

The Last King of Scotland Essays - Films, The Last King Of Scotland

The Last King of Scotland We have watched the movie T he Last King of Scotland , which I am now going to analyze . I will focus on the directors' work of light-composition, the use of perspective and the way the music is chosen to cooperate with the tones of the scenes. The Last King of Scotland , directed by Kevin Macdonald, is an action filled movie about the corresponding relationship between Idi Amin, the Ugandan dictator, and Nicholas Garrigan, a Scottish doctor. The whole story begins with Garrigan as he moves to Uganda as a result of him starting to work for a missionary clinic. After a while, Garrigan and Amin run into each other's and begin to develop a relationship. As time goes by, the ir liaison begins to form into a friendship and Amin start to heavily trust on Garrigan. After many conversations and discussions about the state issues, Garrigan begins to see that Amin's government is the true definition to "political corruption". Even though Amin always manage to put forth hi s most charming sides, Garrigan in the course of time finally see through his artifice and get to see the ruthless dictator that Amin really is. As a consequence , Garrigan start s to interweave in the politics of Ugan da. Furthermore , the movie also leads us through Garraigan's romances with Sara Me rit and Kay Amin. The Last King of Scotland was an intense movie to watch witch many moments that made my heart wrench a bit. The movie was made with scenes that used amazing film techniques to draw the attention of the viewer. The techniques were so good that you as a viewer, felt that you were in Uganda and dealt with the same problems as Dr. Garrigan. However, in this movie , darkness is widespread and the faces in dialogues are often wrapped in shadow . As a result of many scenes being dominated by darkness, the music plays an important role in the way the viewer perceives the tone of the scene. The most commonly music is in the genre African popular music, though in this genre, different type of tones. As an example of this, when the music plays an important role, is in the end of the movie in the scene when Garrigan is fleeing Uganda. Because in the moment we see Garrigan escape Uganda we are also being informed that Amin have been deposed as president. At this moment, in this scene , the director w ants the audience to experience relief. He succeeds very well by letting an ataractic guitar playing ove r the scenes of dancing people i n the streets. Another example i s in those scenes when Garrigan is troubled and when the audience are to feel distr essin g , the tones in the music are instead sharp. In this way, the tones of the scenes are enhan ced by the music. This is one of those as aforementioned really good techniques Macdonald is using. Furthermore, a n important message in the movie I would say , is the development of political corruption I Uganda during the time Amin ruled . The director uses several really good techniques in the matter of relaying this message of the movie. The use of perspective is probably the most apparent technique to achieve this. By letting the audience follow the observant Garrigan allows us to become aware of the corruption in Uganda in the same moment as Garrigan himself. The surreptitious corruption in Uganda is therefore revealed through the method of perspective. Another technique that contributes to relay the central message of the film is the portrait of Amin. Amin is a happy and friendly person when he speaks to his people, but unofficially, he is a brutal man. This reflects the dishonesty inside the state as it the individuals living in Uganda are totally oblivious to. Furthermore, the director also uses the "lightn ing t echnique" as mentioned before, to communicate the message s to the viewers. He does this by darken the conversations that are , as to say "forbidden". This technique makes the contrast between the official outer and truth very clear. Moreover, the

Free Essays on Computer Networking

Nature of the Work [About this section] Back to Top The rapid spread of computers and information technology has generated a need for highly trained workers to design and develop new hardware and software systems and to incorporate new technologies. These workers-computer systems analysts, computer scientists, and database administrators-include a wide range of computer specialists. Job tasks and occupational titles used to describe these workers evolve rapidly, reflecting new areas of specialization or changes in technology, as well as the preferences and practices of employers. Systems analysts solve computer problems and enable computer technology to meet individual needs of an organization. They help an organization realize the maximum benefit from its investment in equipment, personnel, and business processes. This process may include planning and developing new computer systems or devising ways to apply existing systems' resources to additional operations. Systems analysts may design new systems, including both hardware and software, or add a new software application to harness more of the computer's power. Most systems analysts work with a specific type of system that varies with the type of organization they work for-for example, business, accounting, or financial systems, or scientific and engineering systems. Some systems analysts also are referred to as systems developers or systems architects. Analysts begin an assignment by discussing the systems problem with managers and users to determine its exact nature. They define the goals of the system and divide the solutions into individual steps and separate procedures. Analysts use techniques such as structured analysis, data modeling, information engineering, mathematical model building, sampling, and cost accounting to plan the system. They specify the inputs to be accessed by the system, design the processing steps, and format the output to meet the users' needs.... Free Essays on Computer Networking Free Essays on Computer Networking Nature of the Work [About this section] Back to Top The rapid spread of computers and information technology has generated a need for highly trained workers to design and develop new hardware and software systems and to incorporate new technologies. These workers-computer systems analysts, computer scientists, and database administrators-include a wide range of computer specialists. Job tasks and occupational titles used to describe these workers evolve rapidly, reflecting new areas of specialization or changes in technology, as well as the preferences and practices of employers. Systems analysts solve computer problems and enable computer technology to meet individual needs of an organization. They help an organization realize the maximum benefit from its investment in equipment, personnel, and business processes. This process may include planning and developing new computer systems or devising ways to apply existing systems' resources to additional operations. Systems analysts may design new systems, including both hardware and software, or add a new software application to harness more of the computer's power. Most systems analysts work with a specific type of system that varies with the type of organization they work for-for example, business, accounting, or financial systems, or scientific and engineering systems. Some systems analysts also are referred to as systems developers or systems architects. Analysts begin an assignment by discussing the systems problem with managers and users to determine its exact nature. They define the goals of the system and divide the solutions into individual steps and separate procedures. Analysts use techniques such as structured analysis, data modeling, information engineering, mathematical model building, sampling, and cost accounting to plan the system. They specify the inputs to be accessed by the system, design the processing steps, and format the output to meet the users' needs....

8 Summer Activities You Will Miss Out if You Dont Buy Argumentative Essay to Apply to University

8 Summer Activities You Will Miss Out if You Dont Buy Argumentative Essay to Apply to University 8 Summer Activities You Will Miss Out if You Dont Buy Argumentative Essay to Apply to University Writing an argumentative essay for your university application is going to involve time-consuming and tedious research, which may take you all summer to complete. If you need to turn in a paper for your application and you decide not to buy an argumentative essay, go ahead and cross the following summer fun off your to-do list. 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cycling Tour Summer is a great time to ride and taking your bike out for a cruise, enjoying the scenery and getting some exercise is something you deserve after working hard all year to keep your grades up. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Warm Evening Walks Taking a stroll on a warm summer evening is a rare pleasure. The smell of flowers closing for the evening, cool fresh evening air brushing past you as you walk, and relief from the heat of the day are what make a walk on a warm summer night so enjoyable. We are sure you would rather be doing this then writing an argumentative essay. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Surfing Great all year, but especially in summer when all your classmates are at the beach. But go ahead and put that out of your mind you have a paper to write, remember? 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sun Bathing Yes, sun bathing. It requires the sun, and is best done in summer. You know the golden tan, enjoying time with friends at the poolside or beachside. Well, write a raincheck for this summer activity because you will be inside this summer cozying up with your argumentative essay. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Spending Time Outdoors with Pets Fifi and Fido have already suffered quite a bit of neglect because you were so busy all school year, but they will have to wait a little longer for some love from you, maybe you will have some time after you graduate university? 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Beach Party You know these only happen in the summer, right? And now that you have graduated from High School, how many opportunities will you have to party with your friends from High School before you all part ways to attend university? 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Romantic Dates Want a summer fling or some summer snuggles with your sweetie before you both head off to college? Forget about it. Your time is reserved this summer for writing an argumentative essay. 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚   The County Fair Summer is the season for just about every county fair. There are the rides, the cotton candy, games and food booths. The county fair is an icon of the summer, and you attend every year. But this year you may not find the time because of a lengthy and involved paper you need to write. Why not enjoy your summer break? That is what a vacation is for, right. Securing help with writing your argumentative essay can save you time, stress and could save your summer vacation.

Critical evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of an exemplar Essay

Critical evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of an exemplar Eco-City - Essay Example The intention of this study is the concept of eco-city as a global strategy that needs s to be embraced across all borders. With population increase and climatic changes due to the industrialization resulting to global warming, the only solution left is to go green. The eco-city of Freiburg in Germany is an excellent example of how a place can be transformed to become environmental, friendly, and at the same time utilize its resources towards the realization of the vision of globalization. With proper implementation and sustainable measures, there is significant hope that the world will be a better place to live. There is therefore, great need for the relevant authorities to push for proper implementation of sustainable development measures. Amid the weaknesses observed in the paper, there is clear evidence that the strong points surpass the weaknesses. It only calls for cooperation among all the stake holders towards the sustenance of the strategies. The growth and development of ec o-cities is one of the recent responses made by the world towards climate change. As a result, of industrialization and over-urbanization of the existing cities, among many other activities induced by human beings; they have resulted to degradation of the environment in the past years. The recent initiatives have been in response to solving climatic change menace, and the environmental degradation, as well as, scarcity in energy. This has been realized with the idea of setting up eco-cities. Developed countries like the United States of America, Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as, developing countries such as Brazil, UAE, India and China have launched projects aimed at the development of eco-cities. Every aspect of life involving complex planning and strategising is bound to experience challenges in the course of its implementation. Not forgetting the global population increase and projected outcome that more than half of world’s population reside in urban areas, it i s imperative that proper planning, development and regeneration are truly essential. The vision of an eco-city involves the planning of model settlements, incorporates appealing and highly fundamental concepts like improving the quality of people’s life and enhancing harmony with the cherished environment. On the same note, the vision and plans considering their attachment to nature contain some elements that to some might appear utopian. This brings about difficulties in predicting to what degree the strategies will be implemented, although implementation that is oriented perceptively in an explicit eco-city requirement. Crewe and Forsyth (2011) argue that planners are bound to aim at creating cities that are more ecologically sensitive. These two writers say that the authorities, planners and designers in every of the world claim to be just coming up with eco friendly urban areas. The legal and policy issues in the development of eco-cities have led to challenges as well as achievements in the realization of eco-cities. With sustainable development being an issue of the present globalization, this paper will substantially dwell on analyzing the strengths, as well as,