Why was the atomic bomb considered the ultimate weapon in World War 2?

Answer 1

The Decision to Drop Decision to Drop ExhibitionNazi Germany surrendered unconditionally at 2:41 a.m., May 7, ending World War II in Europe. At midnight May 8, the guns stopped firing. The Pacific war with Japan, who was Germany's ally, continued. U. S. President Harry S. Truman, English Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin met in Potsdam, Germany between July 17 and August 2, 1945, to discuss strategies to end the war in the Pacific. The Potsdam Conference The Potsdam Conference was a key step in deciding to drop the bomb.When the Potsdam Conference opened, the news of the successful test at Trinity Site, New Mexico, had reached President Truman. The bomb was now a reality. President Truman's first action was to call together his chief advisors for their opinion on whether the bomb should be used. The consensus was that it should, but that the military plans for invasion should also proceed because it was not known what physical or psychological effects the new weapon might have. The United States, the Soviet Union and Britain approved military plans for invasion and drafted a declaration to be sent to the Japanese demanding unconditional surrender. On July 26, 1945, the Potsdam Declaration was broadcast to the Japanese by the Allied forces. The Japanese government decided that a reply should await the result of peace overtures to the Soviets. Prime Minister Suzuki announced to the world on July 28 that he would ignore the ultimatum. Little Boy and Fat Man Little Boy and Fat Man (L to R) were the world's first atomic weapons. Little Boy was the first nuclear weapon used in warfare. It exploded approximately 1,800 feet over Hiroshima, Japan, on the morning of August 6, 1945, with a force equal to 13,000 tons of TNT. Immediate deaths were between 70,000 to 130,000. Little Boy was dropped from a B-29 bomber piloted by U.S. Army Air Force Col. Paul W. Tibbets. Tibbets had named the plane Enola Gay after his mother the night before the atomic attack. Fat Man was the second nuclear weapon used in warfare. Dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945, Fat Man devastated more than two square miles of the city and caused approximately 45,000 immediate deaths. Major Charles W. Sweeney piloted the B-29, #77 that dropped Fat Man. After the nuclear mission, #77 was christened Bockscar after its regular Command Pilot, Fred Bock. While Little Boy was a uranium gun-type device, Fat Man was a more complicated and powerful plutonium implosion weapon that exploded with a force equal to 20 kilotons of TNT. Source: http://www.atomicmuseum.com/tour/dd2.cfm

Answer 2

The atom bomb was only a few kilotons equivalent of explosive, and in many of the mass bomber raids over Germany, several thousand tons of explosives were delivered.

The difference in the Atom Bomb attacks was that the bombs were exploded some altitude above the ground, thus producing an aerial firebomb. The temperature of this was of course immense, and the height was chosen such that the reflected blast from the ground would be again reflected downwards when it met some of the blast wave direct from the bomb. This helped cause much more blast damage.

But the destruction by the immediate flash was the damaging effect.

The number of casualties in Hiroshima (160 000) and Nagasaki (80 000) were not significantly different than had been achieved in Europe at Dresden and Hamburg. [The Hamburg firestorm was most destructive, with even the tar seal in the streets burning. ]

The modern non-nuclear bomb with similar effect is the Fuel-Air Bomb, (Thermobaric Bomb) which is also exploded at altitude. This has an extensive blast zone, as well as its thermal effects.

Answer 3

The A bomb has two parts, each of which is not of critical mass by itself. When triggered, the two parts are slammed together, achieving critical mass and resulting in an uncontrolled chain reaction of atom splitting and energy release.

Answer 4

Because it gets its energy from rearranging the protons and neutrons of the atomic nucleus, not just rearranging the valence band electrons of molecules. As the nucleus is held together with the strong force and the electrons are held to the atoms by the electromagnetic, there is much more energy available in the nucleus than the valence electrons.

Answer 5

is it? well cold war lasted for almost 5 decades, did u know that it is just a term used to describe tension between US and soviet union.....it's more of a Propaganda.

Answer 6

Other bombs have some type of chemical to create an incendiary explosion. The atomic bomb works by splitting an atom in radioactive material, creating a massive explosion.

Answer 7

the difference is that a hydrogen bomb uses water and is slow at reloading while a atomic bomb is a nuclear weapon and reloads faster and does more damage

Answer 8

The radioactive minerals.