Scientists Say Physics

Scientists Say: Explosion

An explosion is a chemical or nuclear reaction that blasts out a lot of heat, noise and expanding gas

purple and gold fireworks explode in the night sky over big ben

Firework explosions lit up the sky in London, England, with colorful lights on New Year’s 2023.

Dan Kitwood/Staff/Getty Images

By Maria Temming

Explosion (noun, “Ex-PLOH-zhun”)

An explosion happens when some substance undergoes a chemical or nuclear reaction that releases a lot of energy very fast. That energy blasts outward from the source of the explosion in the form of heat and expanding gas. It can also make a lot of noise.

Many different types of things can explode. Sticks of dynamite explode when their fuses are lit. Some metals explode when dropped in water. And dying stars explode when they start to collapse.

In a sentence

One explosion usually spells the end of something — but not for one repeatedly exploding star.

Check out the full list of Scientists Say.

Power Words

More About Power Words

dynamite: A type of explosive.

fuse: (n.) Some cord, tube or other material that can burn and eventually ignite an explosive. Or an electrical device that breaks an electrical circuit when it overheats, thus preventing electrical wires from getting hot enough to cause a fire.

nuclear reaction: Events that physically alter the nucleus of an atom. (This is in contrast to chemical reactions that affect the electrons orbiting an atom.) Some nuclear reactions will transmute an atom, change it into a different chemical element, such as through fission (also known as atom splitting). Others may involve the capture of energy by bombardment with electromagnetic radiation or subatomic particles.

star: The basic building block from which galaxies are made. Stars develop when gravity compacts clouds of gas. When they become hot enough, stars will emit light and sometimes other forms of electromagnetic radiation. The sun is our closest star.

About Maria Temming

Maria Temming is the Assistant Managing Editor at Science News Explores. She has bachelor's degrees in physics and English, and a master's in science writing.

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