As powerful as explosions can be above ground, they are even more dangerous underwater. Since water, unlike air, is incompressible, the pressure wave at the front of an underwater explosion is not damped to the extent it would be in air. A high-pressure, high-temperature bubble of gas also forms in the explosion, and, as with cavitation, if the bubble collapses near metal, the damage can be extensive. (via Gizmodo)
Tag: cavitation
Propeller Cavitation
Gas bubbles can form in a flowing liquid in areas where the pressure drops below its vapor pressure. This process, called cavitation, is a major problem for engineers because the collapse of the bubbles upon entering a high pressure area can damage metal surfaces. Shown here is cavitation on a fully submerged boat propeller.
