How do exposives react in space?

[Treehorn]

On earth the explosives use the air to carry their force so in space what would happen if you exploded a grenade or nuclear device? If they wouldn't work in the vacuum then what would happen if the device was placed in a small oxygenated tent with human mannequin markers at 10 feet increments to 50 miles to gauge explosive force?

[jake-the-peg]

The key point about chemical explosives is that the Oxygen required for the reaction is conatined chemically in the explosive itself.

An explosive will therefore work in space

There will not be a shockwave of course but the debris will be flung out in all directions at high speed as will the resultant gasses.

I think your small oxygenated tent might become a balloon in space

All that would happen is the balloon would burst and the resultant material and gas would be flung out too

[Old_Geezer]

The sun seems to keep nuclear "explosions" going well, and it's "in space".

[beso]

Check out supernovae.

They explode ejecting material at a significant fraction of to the speed of light. Without any atmosphere it doesn't slow down.

They do have shock waves though as they pass through clouds of diffuse hydrogen and make for very pretty pictures.

Hve a look at the Crab Nebula.

[Treehorn]

Will the explosions from a manmade device be more powerful in space or weaker?

[DTCwordfan]

On one hand you are advocating that we turn Thanksgiving into a Day of Atonement because of what happened five hundred years ago and then I find you exploring the concept of explosions, particularly of the nuclear type, with a perverse side-kicker to see what effect it has on human mannequins.

This is sick - and it's so hypocritical.

[Treehorn]

Dtcrosswordfan, i fail to see what this scientifical question has to do with thanksgiving.

My asking about the mannequins as a gauge of the bombs forcecame from that often seen footage of a nuclear bomb going off in the states and then aftermath is shown using a purposefully built town with mannequins so that the army could judge the effects of the bomb.

I'll try and dig up the footage as it is extremely interesting and i apologise if this has upset you for some reason.

[DTCwordfan]

Because I have American family and this is a day of celebrating the family, your words tainting a perfectly decent thread.

[Treehorn]

I also have much family all over the states and many friends there too, however i stick by what i said..

[Canary42]

A lot of fighting going on for the moral high ground here !

[douglas9401]

With offence it's often better to give than to receive.

[DTCwordfan]

so what is the purpose of a nuclear explosion then - it's not to gentrify the landscape. It is the direct and secondary destruction, as well as maiming of humans over a given area.

We agree to disagree and leave it that.

[Treehorn]

Dtcrosswordfan you can see footage of the use of mannequins at 7:40 as they were used quite often from the footage i've viewed so hardly a "Sick" practice though this doesn't actually show the blast. There are quite a few clips on youtube but i don't have the time to trawl through them now but may do later.

Mannequins/dummies are often used in experiments, stunts etc.. to ascertain what the damage or effect would be to a human being without risking injury or loss of life to humans so really nothing to worry about as they don't feel nothing and can be rebuilt again and again, i'm not sure whether you're familiar with "Buster" from the mythbusters?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2-8f-V5sFY

[DTCwordfan]

I have no cause or desire to watch this.

[dustypuss]

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=nukler+balst+in+spacce+vidio&view=detail&mid=52D3415301F63BCAAB9152D3415301F63BCAAB91&first=21

[dustypuss]

Treehorn at least now I know if I get a wooden packing case and bury it under the floor board I should be all right :-0

[Hopkirk]

I guess the bang wouldn't be very loud in a vacuum.

[Hopkirk]

I think you should take the Indiana Jones film with a shovel of salt - he survived the blast by hiding in the fridge!

[jake-the-peg]

Technically an explosion in space will be more powerful because you won't have the damping effect of the air.

Howeverit may be less effective because you have to provide your own medium to transmit the energy, wrap it in some sort of material to be propelled by the exposion,

I really don't understand DT's post - does it relate to a different thread?