Bomb, a container carrying an explosive charge that is fused to detonate under certain conditions (as

upon impact) and that is either dropped (as from an airplane) or set into position at a given point. In
military science, the term “aerial bomb” or “bomb” denotes a container dropped from an aircraft and
designed to cause destruction by the detonation of a high-explosive bursting charge or incendiary or
other material. Bombs differ from artillery shells, missiles, and torpedoes in that the latter are all
propelled through the air or water by a man-made agency, while bombs travel to their targets through
the force of gravity alone. A major distinction must also be made between conventional bombs and
atomic and thermonuclear bombs, which have a far greater destructive capacity. (See atomic bomb;
thermonuclear bomb.) Conventional bomb types

The typical conventional bomb is a streamlined cylinder that consists of five major parts: an outer
casing, the inner explosive material, devices such as fins to stabilize the bomb in flight, one or more
fuzes to ignite the bomb’s main charge, and a mechanism for arming the fuze or preparing it to explode.
The outer case is most commonly made of metal and has a point at its tip, or nose. The explosive charge
in most conventional bombs usually consists of TNT, RDX, ammonium nitrate, or other high explosives in
combination with each other. The fin assembly at the tail end of the bomb enables it to fall through the
air nose-first, by the same principle as the feathers on an arrow.

Bombs can be classified according to their use and the explosive material they contain. Among the most
common types are blast (demolition), fragmentation, general purpose, antiarmour (armour-piercing),
and incendiary (fire) bombs. Demolition bombs rely on the force of the blast to destroy buildings and
other structures. They are usually fitted with a time-delay fuze, so that the bomb explodes only after it
has smashed through several floors and is deep inside the target building. Fragmentation bombs, by
contrast, explode into a mass of small, fast-moving metal fragments that are lethal against personnel.
The bomb case consists of wire wound around an explosive charge. General-purpose bombs combine
the effects of both blast and fragmentation and hence can be used against a wide variety of targets.
They are probably the commonest type of bomb used. Armour-piercing bombs have a thick case and a
pointed tip and are used to penetrate armoured or hardened targets such as warships and bunkers.
Bombs of the aforementioned types generally range in size from 100 to 3,000 pounds (45 to 1,360 kg).
The largest bomb ever regularly used was the British “Grand Slam” type, which weighed 22,000 pounds
(10,000 kg) and was used in World War II.