Alt Text: buff doge on the left representing 1970s america with the caption “I’ve eradicated all the screw worms in North America by releasing sterile males”. Crying doge on the right representing 2020s america with the caption “scary worm back”

  • JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca
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    1 day ago

    I believe all true explosion are supersonic, otherwise it’s just a conflagration deflagration. Feels like an important distinction.

    For example: “That police car exploded!” Is probably incorrect, even if the gas tank catches fire.

    However, “That police car conflagrated deflagrated” is sort of a mouthful, so I understand the colloquial use of “explode”

    Today’s dose of pedantry, until tomorrow!

    • JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca
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      1 day ago

      I have returned from the Internet! I was mistaken!

      Both conflagrations deflagration and detonations are types of explosions, the difference being the speed of sound.