# controlled explosion **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-explosion/83697 "2001-09-25T14:54:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toscar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f9ae1b/32.png) [@toscar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toscar)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-explosion/83697/1 "2001-09-25T14:54:11Z")
We used to blow up unexploded mortar bombs etc with a block of explosives, a detonator and a fuse but what is a CONTROLLED EXPLOSION? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-explosion/83697/2 "2001-09-25T15:04:52Z")
Wow. When I was a kid, we just used firecrackers. Obviously I grew up in a dull neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![toscar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f9ae1b/32.png) [@toscar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toscar)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-explosion/83697/3 "2001-09-26T12:22:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*Wow. When I was a kid, we just used firecrackers. Obviously I grew up in a dull neighborhood. \*\* I asked a question. I’m not interested where you lived a couple of years ago! ---
**Author:** ![Treason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Treason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treason)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-explosion/83697/4 "2001-09-26T13:04:48Z")
A examples would be a rocket engine, the use of explosives to implode a building so that it doesn’t damage near by buildings.