How do Molotov Cocktails Work?

How do Molotov cocktails work and why are they such effective weapons? In its simplest form, these devices are simply bottles filled with a flammable or combustible liquid, like gasoline or alcohol, along with a rag that stops up the bottle top, resting in the fuel inside. The rag in the top essentially acts as a fuse or like a wick in a candle. When lit and the molotov cocktail is thrown, the bottle then shatters, spraying flammable fuel everywhere, which is then caught on fire by the lit rag or cloth. Media: [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG-uiyFXSLE [2] Zoinks Scoob - Music