Quote: Originally posted by woelen | The surface area over which heat can be lost to the environment goes up according to square law, but the volume (and hence mass) enclosed goes up with
third power law. So, the higher the mass, the more heat will be confined in a small volume and the more risk of violent reaction.
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I would like to re-iterate Woelen's comment as many people do not tragically understand (or are aware) of the third power law when it comes to
energetic materials. If one doubles the weight of an explosive compound, the power of the explosion increases approximately by 8 (2 cubed!), triple by
27 (3 cubed!),.... |