Flares facts for kids

Flares, also known as bell-bottoms, were a popular clothing style.

Flares can mean two very different things! They can be a type of trousers (pants) that get wider from the knee down, often called bell-bottoms. They were very popular in the 1960s and 1970s.

Flares can also be a type of pyrotechnic device that creates a very bright light or intense heat. These are used for many purposes, like signaling for help, lighting up an area, or even in military situations. This article will mostly talk about these bright, fiery flares.

What Are Pyrotechnic Flares?

Pyrotechnic flares are devices that produce a strong light or heat by burning special chemical mixtures. They are designed to be easily seen, even from far away, or to create a lot of heat.

How Do Flares Work?

Flares contain a mix of chemicals that burn very brightly when lit. This mix usually includes a fuel, an oxidizer (which helps the fuel burn), and sometimes a colorant to make the light a specific color. When you light a flare, these chemicals react quickly, creating a lot of light and heat.

Types of Chemical Mixtures

Different chemicals are used for different effects. For example, magnesium is often used for very bright white light. Strontium compounds can create red light, and barium compounds can make green light.

Uses of Flares

Flares have many important uses, from safety to entertainment.

Signaling for Help

One of the most common uses for flares is as a distress signal. If someone is lost at sea or in a remote area, they can light a flare to show their location to rescuers. These are often red flares, which are internationally recognized as a sign of emergency.

Illumination

Flares can also be used to light up a large area, especially at night. This is useful in military operations, search and rescue missions, or even during power outages. They can help people see what they are doing or where they are going in the dark.

Military Uses

In the military, flares are used for several purposes. They can be launched from aircraft as countermeasures to distract heat-seeking missiles. They can also be used to mark targets or to illuminate battlefields at night.

Railroad Signals

Railroad workers sometimes use a type of flare called a "fusee." These are handheld flares that burn for a specific amount of time, usually red, and are used to signal to train engineers, especially in emergencies or to mark a stopped train.

Other Uses

Flares are also used in fireworks displays to create bright, colorful effects. They can also be seen at some sporting events or demonstrations, though their use in crowds can sometimes be risky.

History of Flares

The idea of using fire for signals goes back a long time. Early forms of flares were used in ancient China, where people discovered how to make gunpowder. They used early pyrotechnic mixtures for signals and even in warfare. Over time, the technology improved, leading to the modern flares we see today.

Images for kids

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  Illumination flares being used during military training exercises

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  Red flares used at a demonstration in Vienna

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  An Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad brakeman uses a fusee to demonstrate a hand signal indicating "stop".

See also

In Spanish: Bengala (pirotecnia) para niños