Explosion momentum

Just like in any other collision, the total momentum and kinetic energy of a closed system is conserved in an explosion.

However: the type of energy may change in an explosion. For example:

• The chemical energy stored in the explosive material may be converted into kinetic energy of the fragments of the explosion.
• The kinetic energy of the fragments may be converted into heat and sound energy as they collide with each other and with the surroundings.

In short, it may seem like some kinetic energy is ‘lost’ or ‘gained’, because it’s converted from one type of energy to another.
In reality, the total energy of the system stays the same.