Gun powder has been used in some form since 1200's C-4 is a modern invention.
Gun powder's most common formulation is 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, and 10% sulfur. Gunpowder was used as a propellant in guns and cannons and also as a blasting explosive.
Modern gun powder burns at a very high rate of speed to create the gas/pressure needed to propel a bullet.
(low explosive)
C-4 or Composition C is a family of related US-specified plastic explosives consisting primarily of RDX. ( an explosive nitroamine)
C4 can easily be molded into any desired shape. C4 is very stable and insensitive to most physical shocks. C4 cannot be detonated by a gunshot or by dropping it onto a hard surface. Detonation can only be initiated by a combination of extreme heat and a shockwave, such as when a detonator inserted into it is fire
(high explosive)
Low explosives are characterized by a slow rate of reaction, also said to be rapid combustion, resulting in a deflagration. These explosives are usually designed to produce a push or to heave a mass. These explosives are also referred to as propellants.
High explosives are characterized by a high rate of reaction resulting in a detonation. Detonation is defined as an explosion whose resulting pressure wave travels at supersonic speed. High explosives create a powerful blasting or shattering effect.
First, thank you so much for taking the time to compose such an detailed and informative comment. That's ... wow! More than I've ever expected to get when I mused about the Genii's reaction to C4. :-)
So, based on how the Genii's firearms look (and how they handle them) one can assume that those work with modern gun powder which is low explosive - "usually designed to produce a push or to heave a mass" - which would also be exactly what they need in order to uproot a stump - namely "push a mass". One can further assume that the Genii are familiar with gunpowder-based explosives (and probably also use them for different purposes than propelling a bullet out of a gun's muzzle).
Along comes John Sheppard, not knowing any of that, bringing C4 with him, demonstrating what a high explosive like C4 can do and how easy and relatively safe it is to handle. C4 - a high explosive that creates a strong blasting/shattering effect - it's meant to destroy things.
Ah - no wonder that Cowen was so enthusiastic about getting that C4!
He's not so much surprised about the existence of explosives per se (since he has to be familiar with that, given that they use gunpowder in guns) but about the more devastating effect of the C4-explosion - the bigger boom perfect for Genii warfare purposes.
Of course - the technologically underdeveloped farmer he plays would be surprised and pleased by the explosion for it's uprooting utilization, the real Genii military commander is just enthusiastic because *that* is a way better explosive than they used to have up to this moment.
I didn't know that there's such a big difference in how explosives work and what kind of explosion they create. Given those facts I can see why Cowen reacted the way he did. Before I read your explanation I was just wondering why he was so eager to get his hands on C4 since he should already have access to explosives through their development of gunpowder and I didn't see much difference. So I found his reaction a little overboard given that the C4 was just easier to handle (as I thought) than gunpowder-based explosives. But given that there is a really big difference in the kind and quality of the explosion - it makes so much more sense now.
Yes! Yes, your comment helped so very much. :-) Thank you again for taking your time to respond in such a detailed way.
Gun powder has been used in some form since 1200's C-4 is a modern invention.
Gun powder's most common formulation is 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, and 10% sulfur. Gunpowder was used as a propellant in guns and cannons and also as a blasting explosive.
Modern gun powder burns at a very high rate of speed to create the gas/pressure needed to propel a bullet.
(low explosive)
C-4 or Composition C is a family of related US-specified plastic explosives consisting primarily of RDX. ( an explosive nitroamine)
C4 can easily be molded into any desired shape. C4 is very stable and insensitive to most physical shocks. C4 cannot be detonated by a gunshot or by dropping it onto a hard surface. Detonation can only be initiated by a combination of extreme heat and a shockwave, such as when a detonator inserted into it is fire
(high explosive)
Low explosives are characterized by a slow rate of reaction, also said to be rapid combustion, resulting in a deflagration. These explosives are usually designed to produce a push or to heave a mass. These explosives are also referred to as propellants.
High explosives are characterized by a high rate of reaction resulting in a detonation. Detonation is defined as an explosion whose resulting pressure wave travels at supersonic speed. High explosives create a powerful blasting or shattering effect.
does this help?
Here are some articles:
http://stardestroyer.net/Resources/Science/Explosives.html
http://www.helium.com/items/2222038-what-are-high-explosives
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/explosives.htm
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So, based on how the Genii's firearms look (and how they handle them) one can assume that those work with modern gun powder which is low explosive - "usually designed to produce a push or to heave a mass" - which would also be exactly what they need in order to uproot a stump - namely "push a mass". One can further assume that the Genii are familiar with gunpowder-based explosives (and probably also use them for different purposes than propelling a bullet out of a gun's muzzle).
Along comes John Sheppard, not knowing any of that, bringing C4 with him, demonstrating what a high explosive like C4 can do and how easy and relatively safe it is to handle. C4 - a high explosive that creates a strong blasting/shattering effect - it's meant to destroy things.
Ah - no wonder that Cowen was so enthusiastic about getting that C4!
He's not so much surprised about the existence of explosives per se (since he has to be familiar with that, given that they use gunpowder in guns) but about the more devastating effect of the C4-explosion - the bigger boom perfect for Genii warfare purposes.
Of course - the technologically underdeveloped farmer he plays would be surprised and pleased by the explosion for it's uprooting utilization, the real Genii military commander is just enthusiastic because *that* is a way better explosive than they used to have up to this moment.
I didn't know that there's such a big difference in how explosives work and what kind of explosion they create. Given those facts I can see why Cowen reacted the way he did. Before I read your explanation I was just wondering why he was so eager to get his hands on C4 since he should already have access to explosives through their development of gunpowder and I didn't see much difference. So I found his reaction a little overboard given that the C4 was just easier to handle (as I thought) than gunpowder-based explosives. But given that there is a really big difference in the kind and quality of the explosion - it makes so much more sense now.
Yes! Yes, your comment helped so very much. :-) Thank you again for taking your time to respond in such a detailed way.
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