Do civil war cannon balls explode?

Answer 1

No. The weight of the iron ball at the speed it was thrust, did the damage not any explosions. As above. Strictly speaking cannon balls are solid, the ones that explode on impact or during flight are shells.

Answer 2

Cannonballs do not explode. They are solid iron and their destruction comes from sheer force of impact. The gun powder is in the cannon. It's explosion propels the projectile, (Cannonball), into the direction the cannon is pointed. It is the same principle used in in a cap and ball, black powder pistol, or rifle. The powder ignites and the ensuing explosion propels the ball, or bullet, forward!

Answer 3

Yes.

There were 3 basic types of projectiles fired from most cannons during the Civil War.

1- Solid shot. These were round projectiles of solid steel.

2- Shell. These were usually conical nose and had a fuse that would burn through to ignite the powder inside the shell. The fuse could be adjusted to explode at different intervals after it left the barrel.

3- Cannister (or grape shot). This was a load of multiple small balls that flew out in all directions after it left the barrel. Sometimes, they would make the cannister shot out of nails and scrap metal.

Answer 4

no