Dr. Reveles, High Tech Academy program students are testing an exothermic reaction to release energy in the form of a spark or flash. The flash occurs because of mechanical energy (vigorously smacking one rusty cannonball with another one covered in aluminum foil) causing iron oxide on the cannonball to react with the aluminum metal, oxidizing the aluminum, reducing iron to pure metal and releasing heat in the form of light or a spark on what is known as thermite reaction. Click here for photos. Click here for videos one and two. 09/25/2019