The Science Behind a 100 Ton Explosion

In this video, showcasing a 100-ton explosion in Iraq, you see a huge blast, a shockwave, and then hear the noise from the explosion. It may look like any ordinary explosion, but for scientific experts, there is a lot of excitement in the physics and chemistry of this reaction.

For one, it's interesting to see the distinct difference between the speed of light and the speed of sound - you can clearly see the explosion very rapidly, but you don't hear the explosion until the shockwave actually makes it to the camera.

You also see a gas expansion ring, which occurs as gasses expand due to the high pressures of the explosion. The expansion occurs when there is a difference in pressure between the surrounding air and the expanding air.

See? There are more to explosions than kabooms!