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Why are Modern thermonuclear weapons are different from the atomic bombs used in World War 2?
Modern thermonuclear weapons ("Hydrogen bombs") use multiple stages to create their destructive power. It is known that most modern weapons use a fission trigger (basically a small atomic bomb) to create the energy to initiate fusion in the second stage of the weapon (the fusion stage -- the exact mechanism is classified but it could have something to do with ablation of the secondary tamper and radiation implosion) and thereby create a very large and potentially much more destructive explosion.
The two atomic bombs used by the US against Japan were single-stage weapons, but the technology used between the two was different. The yields of those weapons were in the 11 - 15 kiloton range. Modern thermonuclear weapons have higher yields in the hundreds of kilotons.
Additionally, the weapons used against Japan were very large by today's standard (especially for the small yield they had). Modern 150 kiloton thermonuclear warheads can be as small as around three feet long by maybe a 18 inches wide (these are only estimates in size) including the reentry vehicle.
Besides the technical differences outlined above, there is another, more important difference: scale.
The atomic bombs used on Japan had a yield of less than 25kT. Modern thermonuclear weapons generally start at around 350kT, and many are in the 1MT range. Additionally, thermonuclear weapons have very little upper limit: it's actually possible to build a thermonuclear device with a yield over 100MT, though they're impractical as a weapon.
Relative destructive power of a nuclear weapon is measured in Equivalent Megatons (EMT), as yield does not linearly increase destruction. The 2/3rds root of a weapon's yield (as expressed in MT) gives the EMT. I.e. EMT = MT2/3 Thus, a 1MT weapon has 1EMT of damage. A 27MT weapon is 9 EMT. And a 0.25MT (250kt) weapon does 0.4 EMT.
What all this math means is that modern thermonuclear weapons of around 1MT are roughly 12 times as destructive as those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They also produce radically higher secondary effects, such as massive firestorms in the surrounding forests, far higher dust injection into the stratosphere, and a whole host of environmental effects that were minimally felt from the low-yield WW2 weapons.
Put it another way: the WW2 bombs were like being run over by a car at 40mph. They could cause horrific damage, but highly localized, and, ultimately, rather survivable for a country and total population. Thermonuclear weapons are like having your neighborhood crashed into by a 747 at 500mph - vastly larger effects, including large-scale environmental effects far outside the immediate target area.
WW2-size atomic weapon threatens cities with destruction. An equivalent number of thermonuclear weapons threaten entire countries with destruction, including those far outside areas actually hit with the weapons.
What else can I help you with?
What is thermonuclear warfare?
Thermonuclear warfare is the use of nuclear weapons in war, either tactically or strategically. Although the term "thermonuclear" technically applies only to the process of fusion, the term is loosely applied to conflict involving fission weapons, fusion weapons, or both (informal synonyms are "atomic war" or "nuclear war").
Who uses atomic weapons?
The United States has used atomic bombs as weapons .
What weapons from the last century have revolutionized the military?
Atomic Weapons.
What is the comparison of atomic bomb in 1945 to nuclear bombs today?
The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 had yields of about 15 and 20 kilotons of TNT, respectively, resulting in immense destruction and loss of life. In contrast, modern nuclear bombs are significantly more powerful, with megaton yields that can cause widespread devastation over much larger areas. Additionally, advancements in delivery systems, precision targeting, and the development of thermonuclear weapons (hydrogen bombs) have greatly increased their destructive capacity and strategic complexity. Overall, while the fundamental principles of nuclear fission remain the same, the scale and implications of nuclear weapons today are far more profound.
How did the US government try and control the development of atomic weapons?
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What is thermonuclear warfare?
Thermonuclear warfare is the use of nuclear weapons in war, either tactically or strategically. Although the term "thermonuclear" technically applies only to the process of fusion, the term is loosely applied to conflict involving fission weapons, fusion weapons, or both (informal synonyms are "atomic war" or "nuclear war").
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 better atomic weapons or nuclear weapons?
Often these terms are used interchangeably to describe "nuclear weapons" since an atomic bomb derives it's energy from a nuclear chain reaction. What you may be referring to is that the original test and subsequent bombs dropped on Japan during WWII were fission bombs with the Trinity test bomb and Nagasaki bomb being implosion style fission bombs using Plutonium and the Hiroshima bomb being a gun style fission bomb using Uranium. Subsequently, the United States began testing the early prototypes of the modern style warheads which are called thermonuclear weapons because they use a fission bomb to ignite a nuclear fusion reaction which produces a substantially larger yield than the initial fission bombs. The first test of a thermonuclear weapon was a hydrogen bomb detonated in 1952. So in terms of yield, the modern style thermonuclear weapons are drastically more efficient than the early fission bombs.
What weapon was not used in world war 2?
One weapon that was not used in World War II is the atomic bomb in a conventional sense prior to its development and deployment. While the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 were atomic weapons, the broader range of nuclear arms, such as thermonuclear or hydrogen bombs, were not utilized during the conflict. Additionally, many modern weapons, like drones and advanced cyber warfare tactics, were not available or used at that time.
What is thermonuclear?
Nuclear reactions initiated by, and/or depending on heat. As a generic term, thermonuclear is an adjective describing atomic processes involving heat. This definition is necessarily vague, so in practical terms, the word thermonuclear applies specifically to weapons and power generation. Thermonuclear weapons use the heat generated in an initial nuclear fission reaction to cause a chain reaction of further fission and fusion reactions, releasing energy. Thermonuclear fusion is the proposed method for achieving nuclear fusion for power generation. The very high temperature, combined with some form of containment, causes the atomic nuclei to fuse together, releasing energy. Nuclear fusion requires a minimum level of kinetic energy in each collision before the electrostatic repulsion of nuclei is overcome, permitting them to fuse.
Can an atomic bomb destroy an entire continent?
No. Even the most powerful thermonuclear weapons don't even come close to that. Even if it were possible to create such a weapon, using it would wipe out our entire species.
What are the two kinds of nuclear weapons?
I could give you a few answers Implosion design Gun-type design Or I could also say Nuclear Weapon Thermonuclear Weapon aka Atomic Bomb Hydrogen Bomb
What was the difference between the first and World War 2?
The most important different between WW I and WW II is there is a lot modern weapons and atomic bombs are used in WW II.
What types of weapons does England currently possess?
Great Britain's army possesses all the modern weaponry and equipment that the US also has, including atomic weapons.
Who uses atomic weapons?
The United States has used atomic bombs as weapons .
When was Atomic Weapons Establishment created?
Atomic Weapons Establishment was created in 1950.
Which type of nuclear detonation?
Nuclear detonations can be classified into two main types: fission and fusion. Fission involves the splitting of atomic nuclei, while fusion combines atomic nuclei to release energy. Fission is typically used in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs, while fusion is used in more powerful thermonuclear weapons.
