Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Halifax Explosion

j_sum1 - 16-2-2018 at 18:38

I just got introduced to a bit of history I hadn't previously known.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5uTAt_A8BY

17-02-2018 12-23-40 PM.jpg - 76kB

All rather dramatic!

Rocinante - 17-2-2018 at 03:55

It would be nice to find pictures of the fragments.

Such a big explosion is likely to ignite all the soot, so the total energy release over ~ 10s interval was likely ~ 5 kt.
Your feet and hands would surely turn into vapor right next to the explosives, not sure about the whole body.

j_sum1 - 17-2-2018 at 04:11

Apparently a cannon was hurled in the air 3km in one direction and an anchor 2km in the other. Both sizable chunks of metal.
Is that what you meant by fragments?

My jaw dropped when I fathomed the quantity of explosive on board and again when I fathomed the horrific way that people died at quite large distances. That's why I posted. The photos are unreal.

I am surprised that I had not heard of this event before.

Bert - 17-2-2018 at 07:53

Google the following, should use up all your "HOLY SHIT!" for the day.

Port of Texas disaster

Port of Chicago disaster

Oppau disaster

PEPCON explosion

RAF Fauld explosion


Quote:

 It is essential, that persons having explosive substances under their charge should never lose sight of the conviction that, from the facts and general truths which have just been stated, preventive measures should always be prescribed on the hypothesis of a total explosion.

-M. Berthelot "Explosives and Their Power





[Edited on 17-2-2018 by Bert]

Sigmatropic - 17-2-2018 at 08:36

You can add oppau to that list:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppau_explosion

Rhodanide - 23-2-2018 at 19:33

Quote: Originally posted by Bert  
Google the following, should use up all your "HOLY SHIT!" for the day.

Port of Texas disaster

Port of Chicago disaster

Oppau disaster

PEPCON explosion

RAF Fauld explosion


Quote:

 It is essential, that persons having explosive substances under their charge should never lose sight of the conviction that, from the facts and general truths which have just been stated, preventive measures should always be prescribed on the hypothesis of a total explosion.

-M. Berthelot "Explosives and Their Power





[Edited on 17-2-2018 by Bert]


A few other "good" ones are:
Heligoland "Operation Big Bang" (1947) - 6.7 Kilotons
Russian N1-5L rocket incident (1969) - between 1-7 Kilotons
Florakis Naval Base Incident (2011) - between 2-3.2 Kilotons

Not man-made but still significant:
2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake (2004) - 26.3 Megatons
Tunguska Event (1908) - Between 10-30 Megatons
Chicxulub impact (66 MYA) - Estimated 100 Teratons