Dry ice bomb
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A dry ice bomb is a simple bomb-like device. While the simplicity and ease of construction, high bursting pressure, and sound make the dry ice bomb attractive for recreational purposes, they can be unpredictable and dangerous.
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[edit] Overview
As the frozen dry ice carbon dioxide warms inside a bottle, it sublimates to a gas. In the process of becoming a gas the CO2 creates the small explosion that leads to the name dry ice "bomb". The pressure inside the bottle increases as the quantity of gas increases with limited room to expand. Bombs will typically rupture within 30 seconds to 30 minutes, dependent largely on the temperature of the air outside the bottle.[1] A dry ice bomb may develop a frost on the bottle exterior prior to explosion.[1] After explosion, a dry ice bomb will appear to have shattered, with the overall shape of the device intact.[1] Dry ice bombs are most commonly used on their own to simply make a blast, and the timing of the blast is fairly unpredictable.
[edit] Dangers
Dry ice bombs have some serious risks:
- Premature explosion. Burst pressure can occur within seconds, injuring the handler.
- Dry ice is very cold: –78.5 degrees Celsius (-109.3 degrees F).
- The shock wave can be extremely loud. Permanent hearing damage can occur even at substantial distances.
- Shrapnel poses a danger to anyone in the vicinity of the device.
- In many areas dry ice bombs are illegal. Some documented examples include the U.S. states of Arizona,[2] California,[3] and Nebraska [4] but even elsewhere the noise generated may violate local laws.
- Leaving an unexploded dry ice bomb can be construed as public endangerment.
Arrests are frequent.[5][6] Injuries have been reported; glass bottles in particular pose a risk of serious injury.[7][8][9][10]
Bombs which do not explode are a major safety problem. They cannot be left, yet cannot be safely approached.
[edit] Legality
Dry ice bombs are illegal in many jurisdictions.
In California the relevant law defines a dry ice bomb as: "any sealed device containing dry ice (CO2) or other chemically reactive substances assembled for the purpose of causing an explosion by a chemical reaction."[11]
[edit] Popular culture references
- A dry ice bomb featured on MythBusters - episode 57 Mentos and Soda, which was first aired on August 9, 2006.
- The book One Day in the Life of a Fool by Jeremy M. Gates includes a story about a dry ice bomb which failed to explode as planned, and later exploded accidentally after someone took it indoors.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Jill Meryl Levy (2006). The First Responder's Field Guide to Hazmat and Terrorism Emergency Response. Firebelle Productions, 8-10.
- ^ 13-3101 - Definitions
- ^ 2007 Dangerous Weapons Control Law
- ^ State of Nebraska
- ^ Search Results
- ^ SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County - Neighbors' long quarrel erupted
- ^ NewsLibrary Search Results
- ^ NewsLibrary Search Results
- ^ Glass shrapnel injuries to children resulting from...[J Pediatr Surg. 1990] - PubMed Result
- ^ Toxicological Reviews - userLogin
- ^ CA Codes (pen:12301-12316)
