Explosion
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An explosion is a rapid expansion in
Causes
For an explosion to occur, there must be a rapid, forceful expansion of matter. There are numerous ways this can happen, both naturally and artificially, such as
Astronomical
Among the largest known explosions in the universe are
Black hole mergers, likely involving binary black hole systems, are capable of radiating many solar masses of energy into the universe in a fraction of a second, in the form of a gravitational wave. This is capable of transmitting ordinary energy and destructive forces to nearby objects, but in the vastness of space, nearby objects are rare.[5] The gravitational wave observed on 21 May 2019, known as GW190521, produced a merger signal of about 100 ms duration, during which time is it estimated to have radiated away nine solar masses in the form of gravitational energy.
Chemical
The most common artificial explosives are chemical explosives, usually involving a rapid and violent
Electrical and magnetic
A high current electrical fault can create an "electrical explosion" by forming a high-energy electrical arc which rapidly vaporizes metal and insulation material. This arc flash hazard is a danger to people working on energized switchgear. Excessive magnetic pressure within an ultra-strong electromagnet can cause a magnetic explosion.
Mechanical and vapor
Strictly a physical process, as opposed to chemical or nuclear, e.g., the bursting of a sealed or partially sealed container under internal pressure is often referred to as an explosion. Examples include an overheated boiler or a simple tin can of beans tossed into a fire.
Nuclear
In addition to stellar nuclear explosions, a nuclear weapon is a type of explosive weapon that derives its destructive force from nuclear fission or from a combination of fission and fusion. As a result, even a nuclear weapon with a small yield is significantly more powerful than the largest conventional explosives available, with a single weapon capable of completely destroying an entire city.
Properties
Force
Explosive force is released in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the explosive. If a grenade is in mid air during the explosion, the direction of the blast will be 360°. In contrast, in a shaped charge the explosive forces are focused to produce a greater local explosion; shaped charges are often used by military to breach doors or walls.
Velocity
The speed of the reaction is what distinguishes an explosive reaction from an ordinary combustion reaction. Unless the reaction occurs very rapidly, the thermally expanding gases will be moderately dissipated in the medium, with no large differential in pressure and no explosion. As a wood fire burns in a fireplace, for example, there certainly is the evolution of heat and the formation of gases, but neither is liberated rapidly enough to build up a sudden substantial pressure differential and then cause an explosion. This can be likened to the difference between the energy discharge of a
flash, which releases its energy all at once.Evolution of heat
The generation of heat in large quantities accompanies most explosive chemical reactions. The exceptions are called
When a chemical compound is formed from its constituents, heat may either be absorbed or released. The quantity of heat absorbed or given off during transformation is called the
Initiation of reaction
A chemical explosive is a compound or mixture which, upon the application of heat or shock, decomposes or rearranges with extreme rapidity, yielding much gas and heat. Many substances not ordinarily classed as explosives may do one, or even two, of these things.
A reaction must be capable of being initiated by the application of shock, heat, or a
Fragmentation
Fragmentation is the accumulation and projection of particles as the result of a high explosives detonation. Fragments could originate from: parts of a structure (such as
), the casing surrounding the explosive, and/or any other loose miscellaneous items not vaporized by the shock wave from the explosion. High velocity, low angle fragments can travel hundreds of metres with enough energy to initiate other surrounding high explosive items, injure or kill personnel, and/or damage vehicles or structures.Notable examples
Chemical
- 1626 Wanggongchang Explosion
- 1717 Siege of Belgrade (1717)
- 1887 Nanaimo mine explosion
- 1917 Halifax Explosion
- 1917 Battle of Messines
- 1921 Oppau explosion
- 1944 Bombay explosion
- West Loch disaster
- 1944 Port Chicago disaster
- 1944 RAF Fauld explosion
- 1947 Cádiz Explosion
- 1947 Texas City disaster
- 1960 Nedelin catastrophe
- 1969 Soviet N1 rocket explosion
- 1974 Flixborough disaster
- 1977 Iri station explosion
- 1998 PEPCON disaster, Henderson, Nevada
- 1988 Poole explosion
- 1994 Port Neal fertilizer plant explosion
- 2001 AZF (factory)
- 2004 Ryongchon disaster
- 2005 Hertfordshire Oil Storage Terminal fire
- 2008 Gërdec explosions
- 2009 Cataño oil refinery fire
- 2013 West Fertilizer Company explosion
- 2015 Tianjin explosions
- 2020 Beirut explosion
- 2023 Starship explosion
Nuclear
Volcanic
- Minoan eruption
- Eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD
- 1257 Samalas eruption
- 1883 eruption of Krakatoa
- 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption
- 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora
- 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption
- 2022 Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai eruption
- Oruanui eruption
- Toba supereruption
- Yellowstone Caldera
Stellar
Airbursts/Impact events
Transport/Aviation
- September 11 attacks
- Lac-Mégantic rail disaster
- 2023 Ohio train derailment
- Pan Am Flight 103
- TWA Flight 800
- Tenerife airport disaster
Other
Etymology
Classical Latin explōdō means "to hiss a bad actor off the stage", "to drive an actor off the stage by making noise", from ex- ("out") + plaudō ("to clap; to applaud"). The modern meaning developed later:[7]
- Classical Latin: "to drive an actor off the stage by making noise" hence meaning "to drive out" or "to reject"
In English:
- Around 1538: "drive out or off by clapping" (originally theatrical)
- Around 1660: "drive out with violence and sudden noise"
- Around 1790: "go off with a loud noise"
- Around 1882: first use as "bursting with destructive force"
See also
- Combustion
- Deflagration
- Detonation
- Dust explosion
- Standards for electrical equipment in potentially explosive environments
- Explosion protection
- Explosive limit
- Fuel tank explosion
- Implosion (mechanical process): opposite of explosion
- Internal combustion engine
- Mushroom cloud
- Piston engine
- Plofkraak
- Total body disruption, a cause of death typically associated with explosion
- Underwater explosion
References
- ^ Kissane, Karen (2009-05-22). "Fire power equalled 1500 atomic bombs". The Age. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 2009-05-27.
- ^
Van Der Sluys, M. V.; Lamers, H. J. G. L. M. (2003). "The dynamics of the nebula M1-67 around the run-away Wolf-Rayet star WR 124". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 398: 181–194. S2CID 6142859.
- ^ Koeberl, Christian; Sharpton, Virgil L. "Compiled by Christian Koeberl and Virgil L. Sharpton".
- ^ "115 Years Ago: The Tunguska Asteroid Impact Event - NASA". 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
- ^ Siegel, Ethan (15 February 2020). "Ask Ethan: Could Gravitational Waves Ever Cause Damage On Earth? Starts With A Bang". Forbes. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- PMID 15669854.
- ^ wikt:explode#Etymology