Introduction

Explosion, How do i explain it? Its normally sounds BOOM 💥like most of us see in movies. But in reality there is more to the BOOM sound heard. A mild example of explosion can be seen when knockout(a.k.a Banger) is ignited during the xmas celebrations.

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Explosions simply defined as a sudden release of energy in an extreme manner. This release produces a sudden expansion of the material accompanied by large changes in pressure, normally with a flash or loud noise, which is called the explosion. If you noticed the word sudden was used often, this explains the rapid nature at which it occurs. Explosions are characterized by three factors; a rapid increase in volume, the generation of high temperatures and extreme release of heat.
Explosions cause pressure waves (you could say expansive forces) in the local medium in which they occur. These pressure waves are called deflagrations if they are subsonic(mach no <1)and
detonations when supersonic(mach no >1). An example would be gunpowder in a firearm or fuel in an internal combustion engine. Deflagrations are easier to control than detonations - when the goal is to move an object (a bullet in a gun, or a piston in an engine) with the force of the expanding gas
Although explosions are a form of combustion, but have a lot of differences.
Combustion begins when a substance is warmed up to a certain temperature, this is also know as temperature of ignition. Combustion produces a heat level above the temperature of ignition, so that the reaction can continue. Once the temperature level gets to a certain point, the substance will begin to gasify and form what we see as fire.
An explosion is different from the combustion of fire in many ways. Explosions are substances that contain a large amount of energy stored in chemical bonds. This is one basic difference between combustion and explosions. Explosions rely on the initial combustion or agitation of a substance to give off such massive amounts of energy in such a short period. This is because explosions reactions use substances that combust very quickly, but also in such a manner that it will affect the substance next to it, thus creating a quick but violent chain reaction.

Types of Explosions

Explosions are natural or artificial

Natural explosions are those which occur in nature. Examples of natural explosion includes;

• Organic explosion:these are caused by plants and trees when subjected to hot or volatile conditions. For example, the Eucalyptus tree which is predominantly found in Australia is often prone to explosion in periods of sustained heat and dry conditions. This is caused by the tree high oil content.
• Volcanic explosions: this is most obvious of natural explosions, volcanoes cause explosions when magma which has risen to the earth surface, releases large amount of dissolved gases into the atmosphere.
• stellar Explosion: the largest natural explosion currently known in the universe is that of a supernova, the resulting explosion that follows a dying star

Artificial Explosions, the most common artificial explosions involve chemical explosives. These are anything that once ignited burns extremely rapidly and produces a large amount of hot gas in the process, this hot gas expands very rapidly and creates pressure. Artificial Explosions are classified by the amount of energy it takes to initiate the explosive reaction. This initial energy can be anything from a shock, an impact, a friction, an electrical discharge or the detonation of another explosive. Chemical explosives are also divided into high explosives and low explosives, though some explosive materials can fall into either category according to how they are initiated. Examples of artificial explosion are in fireworks, bombs, gunpowder, dynamite etc

Importance of Explosions

Explosions do have its importance, yes as odd as it sound it's true. Explosives are of great use and importance in the mining industries, quarrying, and engineering enterprises and in making fireworks, signal lights, and rockets. They are used to project lifelines to ships in distress off storm-beaten shores, to cast oil rigs upon rough seas; and to break up ice jams

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