Dynamite is an explosive consisting of nitroglycerin, which is held by absorbent material inside the dynamite. Dynamite explodes after the blasting cap causes a smaller explosion resulting in a "shock" to the dynamite.
History
Dynamite was invented by Alfred Nobel in 1866 and patented the next year, in 1867. Alfred Nobel believed that once nations see the destruction dynamite can cause, they would stop fighting and attempt to solve the matter in a different way.
- My dynamite will sooner lead to peace than a thousand world conventions.
As soon as men will find that in one instant,
whole armies can be utterly destroyed,
they surely will abide by golden peace.
Uses
Construction
Dynamite is often used in construction projects so workers don't have to dig or mine material that is in their way. Projects that use dynamite to speed up the construction process are the construction of dams and tunnels.
Mining
The invention of dynamite has increased the speed and efficiency of mining. Before dynamite was invented, miners used black powder and pickaxes to mine.
Warfare
Dynamite was potentially deadly in warfare. The war that first used Nobel's dynamite was World War One. Alfred didn't live to see the destruction it caused in the war and to realize that his conception about dynamite bring peace was completely wrong. Nobel's dynamite has been replaced by "military dynamite", which only has approximately 60% of the strength of his dynamite.