Firework.jpg (26511 bytes)
Fireworks illustrate energy transformation as well  as the conservation of momentum.
To project the explosives up requires conversion of   chemical energy to kinetic energy. The kinetic energy is used to overcome  gravity and is converted to potential energy in the process. During  the explosion, chemical energy  is converted to mostly light,  heat  and sound. The symmetry the fragments display is a consequence of the conservation  of  momentum. The sum of the momenta before and after explosion is zero. 
Gravity makes the projectiles follow an inverted parabola.
According to the "Big Bang Model" our universe may be viewed as a remnant  of  a spectacular  and mysterious firework  that took  place  about 15 billion years ago.

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