break open vs fall apart

break open and fall apart both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
break open	No	No	Yes	No
fall apart	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, fall apart is a hypernym of break open; that is, fall apart is a word with a broader meaning than break open:

Other hypernyms of break open include break, come apart, separate, split up.

break open (verb)	fall apart (verb)
erupt or intensify suddenly	become separated into pieces or fragments
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure	break or fall apart into fragments
open with force	go to pieces
	lose one's emotional or mental composure