• Question: how do you make an explosion

    Asked by oran to Uday, NULL, Pierre, Irene, Chloe on 9 Nov 2015. This question was also asked by andrewluke.
    • Photo: Uday Bangavadi

      Uday Bangavadi answered on 9 Nov 2015:


      Explosion is caused due to rapid increase in volume and extreme release of energy. This can be achieved usually with generation of high temperature.

    • Photo: NULL

      NULL answered on 9 Nov 2015:


      Usually you try to avoid making explosions!

      But if you had to, you would need some chemical that likes to burn really hot and fast, and some way to start it off.

      For a really small explosion, ask an adult to strike a match. Matches are tipped in a special chemical, and when you scratch it on the matchbox the burning starts, and you get a tiny explosion, which lights the wooden match on fire.

    • Photo: Pierre Casaubielh

      Pierre Casaubielh answered on 9 Nov 2015:


      You need a quick reaction between elements and a source… and air (remove one of them, and you cannot have fire or explosion). A good source is fire.
      The chemical elements can be, for example, liquid or powder. A dynamite would be made with a mixture of chemical powders that will be compressed; in presence of fire, all the chemical react quickly, expanding the air very quickly. This is typical described by the sharp sound it produced.

    • Photo: Chloe Huseyin

      Chloe Huseyin answered on 10 Nov 2015:


      I try not to! We use gases when I work for things like our Bunsen burners so an explosion would be really bad as it could rupture a gas pipe and cause an even bigger fire.

    • Photo: Irene Regan

      Irene Regan answered on 10 Nov 2015:


      I’m not sure as I don’t get to make explosions and I am glad nobody does around me either- would not be good for my lab!!!

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