detonates

Detonates is the third-person singular present tense of the verb detonate, meaning to cause to explode as the result of a detonation. In general use, it describes an event in which a material is made to explode due to a detonation reaction.

In scientific terms, a detonation is a rapid exothermic chemical reaction that propagates through an explosive material by a self-sustaining shock wave traveling faster than the speed of sound in the surrounding medium. This is distinct from deflagration, where the reaction front moves subsonically, typically by heat transfer rather than a shock wave. The detonation front compresses the material ahead of it, producing very high pressures and temperatures in a very short time.

Detonation velocities for common high explosives are typically several thousand meters per second. For example, TNT detonates at roughly 6,900 m/s, RDX around 8,750 m/s, and PETN near 8,400 m/s. The term brisance describes the shattering effect of an explosion and is influenced by detonation pressure and confinement, among other factors.

Detonations are used in mining, construction, demolition, and military applications where a controlled, powerful blast is required. Because detonations pose serious hazards, safety protocols, licensing, and professional handling govern their planning and execution to prevent unintended injury and damage.

In everyday language, detonates can also appear in discussions about safety, regulation, or hypothetical scenarios involving explosive events, always with an emphasis on controlled and responsible use.