5 ms·
The charges will not be like nitroglycerin, but they will be highly explosive and will detonate when sufficiently energized. Under the right circumstances the k
by escape_goat 4y ago
The charges will not be like nitroglycerin, but they will be highly explosive and will detonate when sufficiently energized. Under the right circumstances the kinetic energy from a fragment of an interceptor would suffice.
- denton-scratch 4y agoMost modern high explosives won't detonate at all in response to a kinetic insult. They need a detonator, and usually a primer too. Even TNT; you can hit it with a hammer, shoot at it, or try to set it on fire; it won't explode. To set it off, you need a supersonic shockwave.
- escape_goat 4y agoTo my circumstantial understanding, it is plausible that fragments of an interceptor detonated in proximity to the warhead could achieve supersonic velocities capable of delivering the requisite shock, but I lack the knowledge to argue the point.
- BenjiWiebe 4y agoAnd it'd still need to detonate the difference sections in exactly the right timing to get a successful nuclear explosion.