2007-02-12 06:08:51 · 4 answers · asked by alste 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
this question has been answered see
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2007-02-12 06:22:30 · answer #1 · answered by meg 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They arent just caused by nuclear explosions. Any big explosion will cause the mushroom cloud.
Mushroom clouds form as a result of the sudden formation of a large mass of hot low-density gases near the ground creating a Rayleigh-Taylor instability. The mass of gas rises rapidly, resulting in turbulent vortices curling downward around its edges and drawing up a column of additional smoke and debris in the center to form its "stem". The mass of gas eventually reaches an altitude where it is no longer less dense than the surrounding air and disperses, the debris drawn upward from the ground scattering and drifting back down
2007-02-12 06:23:29 · answer #2 · answered by Scuba Steve 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hot air rises, cold air falls.
As the superheated air expands after the initial detonation, it creates a big "bubble" cloud. This consists of very hot air. It rises. As it rises, cooler air rushes in to replace the air that moved up. Since all the energy causing the expansion of the bubble has moved up and away, the remaining column does not expand against the in-rushing cold air.
2007-02-12 06:19:28 · answer #3 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Halifax Explosion of 1917 may have been the first explosion big enough to cause a mushroom cloud.
2007-02-12 06:35:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋