combustion of gunpowder take place? Can you explain why
combustion takes place without the presence of a gaseous
supporter of combustion, as gunpowder will inflame in vacuo?
What are the products of the combustion of gunpowder? What
gases are generated? To what is the force of fired gunpowder
owing? What are the experiments of Mr. Robins on the force of
gunpowder? How would you separate the component parts of
gunpowder so as to determine their proportions? What are
gunpowder proofs? What is understood by the comparative force
of gunpowder? What are eprouvettes, etc.? In noticing in the
same manner the preparations used for fireworks, and for war,
as the rocket, for instance, the following questions were
propounded; viz., What is a rocket? How is it formed? Is the
case always made of paper? What is the war rocket? What is
the composition for rockets, and how does it act? What
particular care is required in charging a rocket? What is the
cause of the ascension of rockets? What is the use of the
conical cavity, made in a rocket at the time it is charged,
or bored out after it is charged? How do cases charged with
composition impart motion to wheels, and other pieces of
fireworks? What is understood by the rocket principle? What
is the rocket stick and its use? Is the centre of gravity
fixed, or is it shifting in the flight of rockets? How are
rockets discharged? What is the head of a rocket? What is
usually put in the head? Are all rockets furnished with a
head? What is understood by the furniture of a rocket? How
are the serpents, stars, fire-rain, etc., forming the
furniture of a rocket, discharged into the air, when the
rocket has terminated its flight, or arrived at its maximum
of ascension? What forms the difference between a balloon, in
fireworks, and a rocket? As the balloon contains also
furniture, and is projected vertically from a mortar, how is
fire communicated to it, so as to burst it in the air? Is
the fuse used, in this case, the same as that for bombs,
howitzers, and grenades? What is the Asiatic rocket? The
fougette of the French? In what siege were they employed with
success by the native troops of India? What was the nature of
their war-rocket? What is the murdering rocket of the French?
Is the conical head hollow, solid, blunt, or pointed? Why is