How do grenades work?
In: Technology
There are many types of grenades. They consist of similar [parts](https://cdn.hswstatic.com/gif/grenade-delay.gif) though.
First, we have the trigger. Most of them are spring-loaded and secured with a pin. So if you pull the pin, the spring pushes the trigger outwards, but you can hold it in, until you release the grenade e.g. by throwing it.
If you release it the spring will extend and the trigger will hit a small charge that sets of a fuse. The longer the fuse, the more delayed the explosion will be. Then the fuse ignites a primary detonator. That causes an explosion inside the grenade, after here components vary.
For the “common” grenade, a fragmentation grenade, this ignites a second charge, which is much larger and makes up most of the grenade to cause a big explosion. This charge is surrounded by a serrated metal hull, that gets fragmented by the explosion and flung outwards at high speed.
These fragments are extremely sharp, big and fast, making them deadly projectiles for anyone close to the explosion and increasing the kill radius for the grenade significantly compared to it only being loaded with explosives.
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