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A "dirty bomb," officially known as a radiological dispersal device (RDD), is designed to spread radioactive material using conventional explosives. The primary purpose of this device is to cause panic and fear rather than widespread destruction, as would be the case with a nuclear bomb. By combining radioactive material with ordinary explosives, the bomb can effectively disperse the radioactive substance into the surrounding area, contaminating it and potentially exposing people to harmful radiation.

The dual composition is crucial; the explosive acts as a means to distribute the radioactive material over a wider area, increasing its potential impact. This makes the understanding of a dirty bomb different from that of other explosive devices which might contain only explosive materials or just radioactive substances. The ability to mix these two elements is what categorizes it uniquely as a dirty bomb.