Cherry bomb

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This article is about the explosive. For the muffler, see Glasspack.

Cherry Bomb Fireworks are exploding fireworks, usually round, approximately one inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, and coloured red with a green fuse. They contain a core made of explosive flash powder, a layer of sawdust, and a coating of sodium silicate. They are powerful enough to cause very serious injury.

Cherry Bombs Fireworks are considered illegal explosive devices in the United States^[1]. Possession, manufacture, or sale of cherry bombs in the USA is illegal.

Actual Cherry Bombs are handheld, and can be purchased legally, but only when the buyer is over 16. A Cherry Bomb is a tiny package made out of see-through paper with gunpowder, tiny pebbles, and wood chips inside with the paper twisted up on the top to hold it with. They are very sensitive, and when dropped or thrown at any hard surface, explode like a cap in a cap gun, or sometimes bigger. If they are thrown on a moist surface, wet pavement for example, they will short and will not fire. They are kept in wood chips when packaged to avoid the bombs from touching each other and to keep them warm, because sometimes when they are cold they can fire or they can be ruined. The name Cherry Bomb comes from the bulb of the bomb containing the ingredients, like a cherry, and the stem on the top.

[edit] Cultural references

• John Mellencamp wrote a song in 1987 called "Cherry Bomb".
• Pop/rock band Ash also has a song called "Cherry Bomb" on their album, Free All Angels
• Rock band The Runaways also has a song called "Cherry Bomb"
• The Notorious Cherry Bombs is a band started by Rodney Crowell.
• Bart Simpson makes a cherry bomb go off in the girl's toilets at Springfield Elementary School in the episode; The Crepes of Wrath of Season One.

[edit] References

1. ^ (2005). "Police and Fire Services Fireworks Enforcement and Safety Guide" (PDF). Office of the State Fire Marshall. Retrieved on 2006-06-04.