Exposing the Myths Surrounding Hollywood's On-Screen Vehicle Destructions
In the world of action movies, car explosions are a staple, often serving as the climactic moment in many films. However, these explosions, while visually thrilling, are not a true reflection of reality.
The science behind car explosions is rooted in the combustion process that takes place in a car engine. The spark plug provides the small amount of energy required to make the reaction happen, compressing the air and fuel mixture to create high-pressure conditions. This reaction, known as an explosion, produces a corresponding amount of gas, which, in turn, generates the force necessary to power the vehicle.
However, unlike in movies, fuel and diesel do not detonate on their own. They require specific conditions to explode, including being under pressure, mixed with air, and with a small amount of energy added in the form of a spark or a flame. Liquid fuel can be difficult to ignite, even when it comes into contact with a flame. It's the fuel vapor, not liquid fuel, that can catch fire and potentially cause an explosion, but only in the presence of air with 20% oxygen and under pressure.
In real-life accidents, fuel may occasionally catch fire, but it does not explode due to the lack of mechanisms for creating the high pressures required. Cars do not explode under normal circumstances, unlike in action films. The Ford Pinto and Chevrolet Malibu, from the 1970s, are exceptions due to poorly designed fuel tanks that were prone to catching fire.
In action films, car explosions are created using a mix of real stunts, rigged pyrotechnics, and computer effects to maximize visual impact. For example, in "F1: The Movie," spectacular car crashes and explosions result from a combination of physical rigs that launch cars and VFX that enhance sparks and flames for dramatic effect. Similarly, movies utilize practical effects such as ramps, rigs, squibs, and controlled charges placed inside or near the vehicle to simulate explosions safely while capturing realistic footage.
Hal Sosabowski, a professor of public understanding of science at the University of Brighton, explains that "realistic physics are compromised for spectacle; real cars do not commonly explode with such massive fiery blasts on impact." Instead, real crashes often lead to fires rather than explosive detonations. Movie explosions usually exaggerate the size, brightness, and debris field for spectacle, ignoring the slower nature of most fuel-fed fires and the structural integrity of modern fuel tanks.
In summary, movie car explosions combine pyrotechnics, practical stunt rigs, and computer effects to create dramatic visuals. Realistic physics are compromised for spectacle; real cars do not commonly explode with such massive fiery blasts on impact. Actual fuel fires in accidents tend to burn rather than detonate explosively without specific conditions. The enhanced chaos and intensity of explosions serve cinematic purposes rather than strict scientific realism.
Thus, while movie car explosions provide visually thrilling sequences, they are loosely based on science and heavily augmented by special effects to create the iconic "car blowing up" scenes typical in action cinema.
[1] "F1: The Movie" (1971) - IMDb [4] "The Art of Action: Visual Effects in Movies" - The Conversation (republished under a Creative Commons license)
[1] The intersection of science and health-and-wellness is exemplified in the investigation of car explosions, where understanding the combustion process can help improve fitness-and-exercise technology, such as more efficient engines.
[2] Advancements in technology, particularly in the field of visual effects, allow filmmakers to create exciting and realistic depictions of car explosions in action movies, thereby enhancing the overall health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise experience for viewers by providing a thrilling escape from reality.
