What is the difference between low explosives and high explosives?

The distinction between low explosives and high explosives fundamentally revolves around their combustion and detonation characteristics. Low explosives, such as black powder, burn rapidly and create a sustained release of energy over time, which produces gas that can exert pressure but does not travel as a shock wave. In contrast, high explosives, like TNT or RDX, detonate almost instantaneously, creating a powerful shock wave and a rapidly expanding gas, which results in a significantly more violent and destructive reaction. This difference in behavior is crucial for their applications; low explosives are often used in situations where controlled combustion is desired, like in fireworks or propellants, while high explosives are utilized in military applications and demolition due to their capability to produce a shock wave and substantial force effectively.