What Is a Bomb?

A bomb is a military term for any container containing a bursting charge which is fused to detonate under certain conditions (usually upon impact) and designed to be dropped from an aircraft. This type of munitions differs from artillery shells and missiles, which are propelled through air or water by mechanical means. Bombs are also distinguished from unguided munitions such as torpedoes and rockets, which are guided by human operators or by radar guidance systems.

Typically, the main explosive effect of a bomb is a negative shock wave which inflicts blast-induced acceleration on people and vehicles within its radius. Secondary effects may include fireballs and incendiary shards, which can cause severe to catastrophic burns or incinerate structures. The explosion can also generate a thermal wave, which disperses hot particles over long distances. This can produce a range of injuries, including thermal burns and inhalation.

The most common conventional bomb is a streamlined cylinder, often made of metal, with devices such as fins and one or more fuses for igniting the main charge upon impact or other triggers. The main explosive charge usually consists of TNT, RDX or ammonium nitrate, combined with other high explosives.

Nuclear fission bombs such as the one invented by Barnes Wallis during World War II contain a small quantity of uranium or plutonium which undergoes chain reactions to release enormous amounts of energy, much more than would be released by the same amount of TNT. This enables these weapons to affect targets that are difficult or impossible to reach with conventional bombs.