This Is What A Shock Wave Actually Looks Like

BOOOOOOOOM.

Here's what the shock wave coming off an explosion would look like if you could freeze it in time.

Defence Research and Development Canada

The explosion was carried out at Canada's Experimental Proving Ground in Alberta, a site that's been used as a research and training facility since 1941.

A shock wave is an wave of high pressure that spreads out from an explosion (and anything that travels faster that the speed of sound, too). Usually you just hear a shock wave rather than see it: they create the boom you hear when a firework explodes and the rumble of thunder.

The still comes from a video by the Canadian Armed Forces that shows how they "train for defence against deadly threat agents and explosives."

youtube.com

It's all a bit dramatic and there's a lot of weaponry and patriotism, if you like that sort of thing.

H/T: Popular Mechanics