When reading [this article on the debris they found from Flight MH370][1] they mention a lab in France that is supposed to be able to look at the debris (a flaperon), and figure out of the flight had exploded in mid-air or if it had broken up on impact.

This has left me wondering, how would they do that?  How can you tell from an exterior control surface<sup>1</sup> that the plane had exploded or broken up on impact?

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<sup>1</sup>: Examples may include elevons, flaperons, ailerons, elevators, basically anything that helps the plane maneuver and is exterior to the fuselage.


  [1]: http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/31/world/mh370-debris-investigation/