Parts of Bombs...
A typical bomb is composed of 4 principal parts:
(1) a metal casing
(2) fins
(3) a fuse
(4) a high explosive charge
(1) Depending upon the ultimate purpose of the bomb, the casing may be made of various types of metals ranging from a fraction of an inch to several inches in thickness. The casing is usually of cylindrical shape with a rounded cover on the front end.
(2) Fins are attached to the back end of the casing to provide a means of stabilizing the bomb as it falls. The fins prevent the bomb from tumbling end over end and help attain a predictable trajectory. In order to make a bomb fall more slowly, some fin are built to offer a great air resistance.
(3) The fuse serves 2 purposes: it controls the precise instant of detonation and it starts the chemical or physical action necessary to "blow-up" the main charge of high explosives. Bombs are constructed so that they will not explode until the fuse has been armed. Most bombs use a rotating vane called an impeller, to clear an obstruction from the firing pin's path to the detonator. As the bomb falls, the force of the air turns the impeller, and in turn, unscrews the obstruction.
(4) High explosives are chemical compositions which provide the blast effect of a bomb. The force is great enough to burst the casing and cause destruction by concussion or very high pressure. Most bombs use TNT [trinitrotoluene] , Composition B [a mixture of TNT and RDX, another nitrogen compound] , or amatol as the high explosive. They are relatively safe to handle but give a great explosive and destructive force.
Bombs are classified into several types. They range in weight from 4 pounds to 20 tons [1.81kg to 18.14 metric tons] and in length from 1 to15 feet [3 to 4.57 meters].
Source: A Britannica Publication, "Compton’s Encyclopedia", Compton’s Learning Company, USA.
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