Gunpowder is an explosive material that burns rapidly to form a high pressure
gas. Expansion of this gas inside the barrel of a gun can accelerate a projectile to great
speed. Gunpowder is therefore used a propellant in a variety of thinks like ammunition.
It is also used in explosives for blasting operations, fireworks and fuses in slightly
Gunpowder has had a unique history since its discovery in the early 1100’s.
Gunpowder comes in many forms from a dirty burning
black powder to a smokeless
variety of powders. Gunpowder has been used for a number of things over the last 900
years for a variety of things ranging from recreational uses to military warfare.
The first people to acquire knowledge of the explosive properties of gunpowder were
the early Chinese. They used a mixture of saltpeter and sulfur to make and explosive
powder. They used this explosive powder to blow up piles of rocks and to make
primitive weapons such as stone cannons. The Japanese learned about gunpowder from
the Chinese and they refined its use. The ninja of Japan used gunpowder to make large
smoke clouds as shields or cover to hide themselves. They also used gunpowde
