science

Port Colborne explosion

Port Colborne explosion is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Port Colborne explosion rather than just read about it. In short: The Port Colborne explosion at Port Colborne, Ontario was a dust explosion in the Dominion grain elevator on August 9, 1919. The blast killed 10 and seriously injured 16 more.

Key takeaways

Port Colborne explosion belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Port Colborne explosion to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Port Colborne explosion from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Port Colborne explosion at Port Colborne, Ontario was a dust explosion in the Dominion grain elevator on August 9, 1919. The blast killed 10 and seriously injured 16 more.

Background A dust explosion is the rapid combustion of fine particles suspended in the air within an enclosed location. Dust explosions can occur where any dispersed powdered combustible material is present in high-enough concentrations in the atmosphere or other oxidizing gaseous medium, such as pure oxygen. Dust explosions are a frequent hazard in coal mines, grain elevators, and other industrial environments. The Port Colborne explosion was just one of five that occurred in North America between May 20 to September 13, 1919, due to a lack of regulations concerning grain shipment. The series of dust explosions resulted in 70 deaths and many more injuries.

Explosion Servicing the grain exports of Canada the concrete structure that had a capacity of 2,250,000 US bushels (79,000 m3) was completely destroyed as well as the steamer Quebec which was berthed next to the elevator. The explosion sent flames hundreds of feet in the air and debris was blown 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Port Colborne explosion

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Port Colborne explosion claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Port Colborne explosion before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Port Colborne explosion ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Port Colborne explosion

In research: Port Colborne explosion appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Port Colborne explosion in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Port Colborne explosion is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1910s fires in North America, 1919 disasters in Canada, 1919 explosions, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Port Colborne explosion outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Port Colborne explosion in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Port Colborne explosion means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Port Colborne explosion out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Port Colborne explosion in simple terms?

The Port Colborne explosion at Port Colborne, Ontario was a dust explosion in the Dominion grain elevator on August 9, 1919. The blast killed 10 and seriously injured 16 more.

Why does Port Colborne explosion matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Port Colborne explosion?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Port Colborne explosion.