Author. Cyborg. Professor of extreme physiology including breathing underwater, high altitude, & explosions. she/her. Tweets often sassy, always my own.
Mar 1, 2022 ā¢ 11 tweets ā¢ 4 min read
Thermobarics: a primer
First, here is a great chemistry thread by @johnismay.
Summary: thermobarics are a type of explosive that seek to lengthen the time for which the blast produces HEAT ("thermo") and PRESSURE ("baric")
But why does this increase injuries & damage?...(1/10)
(2/10) All explosives cause damage through the pressure wave they produce (in addition to things like shrapnel). The outwardly expanding pressure wave is why you might escape w/burns if you hold a firecracker on an open palm, but you will lose your hand if you close your fingers.
