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They aren't usually. However there are 3 variant designs of fusion bombs:
- High yield - this is the conventional design using either depleted uranium or natural uranium for the tamper of the fusion stage(s). Over 90% of the yield is produced by fission in the tamper caused by 15 MeV fusion neutrons. As nearly all the yield is fission their fallout is roughly proportional to that of pure fission bombs of the same yield (if pure fission bombs of that yield were possible).
- Clean - this is a reduced fallout design that sacrifices some yield by using inert materials like lead, tungsten, iron, etc. for the tamper of the fusion stage(s). Over 95% of the yield can be produced by fusion. Total fallout would be only a tiny fraction of that of a pure fission bomb of the same yield (if pure fission bombs of that yield were possible).
- Dirty - this is usually referred to as an enhanced fallout bomb instead of a dirty bomb, like the clean design it sacrifices some yield. In these some or all of the uranium tamper would be replaced by materials with large neutron capture crosssections that become "activated" on absorbing a neutron. Some possible materials that have been proposed at various times are cobalt, gold, silver. 95% or more of the yield might be fusion. Total fallout would be much greater than that of a pure fission bomb of the same yield (if pure fission bombs of that yield were possible). Due to their limited military value, no country is known to have built or stockpiled any. The cobalt bomb was a common idea in fiction stories of the 1950s though, to frighten readers.
The term dirty bomb has come to refer mostly to radiological weapons: a conventional explosive enclosed in hot radioisotopes that are dispersed when the explosive detonates. These have severe practicality problems and will likely kill anyone attempting to use them before they could set it up.
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Why thermo nuclear bombs are called dirty bombs?
Beacause millions of lives were taken by the nuclear bombs
Why are hydrogen bombs called dirty bombs?
Hydrogen bombs are called "dirty" bombs because, in the final stage of detonation, they fission1 a lot of uranium, releasing its binding energy. This results in a lot of mixed fission byproducts that contaminate the environment. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1The detonation sequence is fission of the primary, uranium or plutonium, which initiates fusion, hydrogen, producing an enormous amount of neutrons along with radiation, followed by fission of the secondary or secondaries, uranium. For more information on the Teller-Ulam design, see the Related Link below.
Why are thermonuclear bombs more disastrous than the normal bombs?
much higher yield per bomb.
Why are nuclear bombs called 'dirty' bombs?
Fusion (thermonuclear) bombs can be classified into 'dirty' and 'clean' bombs, depending on the material used for their fusion stage(s) tamper. Normally depleted uranium is used, this produces a very high yield 'dirty' bomb as the uranium fissions providing as much as 90% of the yield and large amounts of fallout. If you are willing to sacrifice most of the weapon's potential yield (but the yield is still very high), you can replace the fusion stage(s) tamper with non-fissionable metals (e.g. lead, tungsten, iron) and get what is called a 'clean' bomb that in some cases produces 5% or less of the fallout of similar yield bombs with uranium tampers. There are also bombs called 'salted' bombs where selected elements are added to the uranium tamper to make the fallout worse at a minor loss in yield depending on how much of these elements are added. Sometimes these are referred to as 'dirty' fusion bombs, when the standard uranium tamper bomb is referred to as a 'conventional' fusion bomb.
Do grenades make big explosions?
Compared to fireworks, yes, compared to thermonuclear bombs, no
What are the problems involved in thermonuclear bombs?
Some of the problems involved in thermonuclear bombs include the risk of accidental detonation, the potential for proliferation leading to nuclear arms races, and the massive destruction and radioactive fallout they can cause. Additionally, there are ethical concerns surrounding their use due to the catastrophic consequences.
What are some other things that nuclear weapons are called?
Atomic bombs, A bombs, fission bombsHydrogen bombs, H bombs, fusion bombsBoosted fission bombs, "dial-a-yield" bombsMultistaged fusion bombsClean fusion bombs, reduced fallout fusion bombsSalted fusion bombs, dirty fusion bombs, increased fallout fusion bombsetc.
Why are thermo nuclear bombs more disasterus than nuclear bombs?
Thermonuclear bombs, or hydrogen bombs, are more destructive than nuclear bombs because they involve a two-stage process: a fission reaction triggers a fusion reaction, resulting in a much larger explosion. This fusion reaction releases much more energy and is more efficient at converting material into energy compared to the fission reaction alone. As a result, thermonuclear bombs are typically much more powerful and devastating than traditional nuclear bombs.
What bombs are much more powerful than the atomic bombs?
Thermonuclear or hydrogen bombs are significantly more powerful than atomic bombs. These bombs use a two-stage process that combines nuclear fission and fusion reactions, resulting in a much larger explosive yield.
Why are thermonuclear bombs are more disastrous than nuclear bombs?
Nuclear bombs use nuclear fission of some heavy element, usually uranium or plutonium. Thermonuclear bombs use the detonation of a fission bomb to ignite the fusion of hydrogen. Such weapons are more powerful than ordinary nuclear weapons because nuclear fusion releases more energy than nuclear fission, and because the process of fusion itself can be used to ignite more fission.
What elements besides uranium plutonium and hydrogen can be used to make atomic or thermonuclear bombs?
Other elements that can be used to make atomic or thermonuclear bombs include beryllium, lithium, and thorium. These elements are used in the production of certain types of nuclear weapons to enhance their yield and efficiency.
What is the difference between an atomic bomb and a thermonuclear bomb?
They are both general terms. The term "atomic bomb" can mean any nuclear weapon, either a fission weapon or a fusion weapon (the so-called hydrogen bomb). The term thermonuclear bomb is also used in general, but it usually excludes the fusion bombs. It should be noted, however, that it takes a fission bomb to generate the heat necessary to "set off" a fusion reaction and make a fusion bomb work.
