On bombs why do they need to cut only certain wires?

Question

Water ruins a computer right? Why not pour water on a bomb?

Answer 1

In a 'bomb' (such as seen in movies or an IED in real life) the detonator is set off by an electric charge (usually from a battery), with one or more timers or other devices governing when and under what conditions this charge will be applied. Primitive homemade bombs - of a type which is *rare* in modern times - had separate devices connected by external wires. In theory, if the circuit of wires is sufficiently complex, it may be possible to create a short or unintended connection by cutting the wrong one - essentially sending a charge to the explosive rather than cutting off its supply.

In practice, any bomb which has separate components connected by visible wires should be easy enough to defuse simply by cutting whichever one is connected to the power terminal of the battery. Any bomb sophisticated enough to have a digital counter (for example) doesn't need more than a single wire to the detonator; all the other components are self-contained.

Anyone clever enough to devise secret dual circuits, dummy wires and so on could simply hide the bomb so it wasn't found before it goes off. If the object is to have the bomb go off, there are ample ways to do this without over complicating the device itself (which actually increases the chance of a misfire). The only conceivable purpose of a bomb like you see in movies is to lure in someone to defuse it so you can blow him up; this doesn't really happen in real life, since it's easier to just set it off when your target approaches without all the bells and whistles.

Aside from a way to create dramatic tension, the kind of bombs seen in movies may be inspired by security systems and critical military hardware (such as air-to-air radar installations) which sometimes do have built-in alarms, redundant systems, dummy parts etc. designed to foil would-be saboteurs. The difference in these systems is that the device is supposed to continue working despite efforts to deactivate it, as opposed to bombs which are by definition expendable.

Answer 2

Puring water on bomb depends on type of a bomb. There are several types of bomb ex. Plastic explosives, Nitrates/Nitrous, Oil/Petroleum based etc. Each bomb need a detonator or fuse to be explode. plastic explosives like C4 need electrical charge for explosion.

Puring water on it doesn't make any difference on it. water can effect only on low grade Nitrates/Nitro bomb formulas which usages heat or spark to explode and it is necessary that water makes down the explosion temperature of the material. Oil/petroleum based bombs can also not be defused by puring in water.

But dipping a bomb into swimming pool can cause a minimal damage due to viscosity of water.

The experts cut only few wires by knowing which one is operating fuse of the bomb. When they cut the wire of fuse the fuse can not initiate the explosion. Cutting the other wires can cause pre explosion due to mall functioning in circuit.

Answer 3

The whole wire cutting thing is mainly a trick to add dramatic effects to a movie. The idea is to deactive the fuse portion of the circuit without interfering with current to the explosive, which would cause it to detonate. If you cut the wrong wire, the entire circuit is compormised and the bomb would detonate.

Answer 4

On bombs why do they need to cut only certain wires?
because there are some wires which control the explosion. If you cut the wrong wires, it is possible that the bomb will explode immediately

Answer 5

Its just for the movies the bomb maker could also make it so that any wire when cut sets it off.

Answer 6

I'm going to assume that you haven't witnessed a genuine defusing.

It's all made up for the movies, like "Password Accepted" on computer screens.

Answer 7

So that it won,t explode. Pouring water on it could cause a short circuit and cause it to explode.

Answer 8

That's all movie bs.

Answer 9

to deactivate it