Nuclear Weapons

To produce nuclear energy an unstable element, such as Uranium 235, is struck with neutrons which causes it to decay and release more neutrons and a small amount of mass changes into energy, E=MC2. This is know as nuclear fission. The neutrons continue on and strike more atoms of Uranium causing them to decay. In the reactor are rods of Boron which absorb stray neutrons and can be either withdrawn or inserted to control the rate of the reaction. The energy released is mostly heat and is used to heat water to steam, which is then used to turn turbine generators and send power to the grid.

In a nuclear weapon there is a large enough amount of the unstable element to cause what is called, "Critical mass", that is, enough for the nuclear reaction to start all by itself. It is broken into two pieces so that, until explosives slam the two pieces together, the reaction will not start. Once the pieces have collided and critical mass has been achieved, there are no Boron rods to control the reaction so, there is a run away chain reaction and all the fissionable material decays, releasing its energy.

The Little Boy atomic bomb used about 64 kilograms (141 pounds) of highly-enriched uranium-235, not plutonium. Plutonium was used in the Fat Man bomb, which used about 6.2 kilograms (13.6 pounds) of plutonium.

Hard to determine the "shelf life" of nuclear weapons as that information is all classified Top Secret and some is probably also marked Restricted Data.

The early atomic bombs had a "shelf life" of about 138 days, after which the polonium-beryllium neutron source needed to be replaced to be certain the bomb would detonate when needed. But modern bombs use an electronic neutron source that should never need replacement. The batteries at one time also limited the "shelf life" of nuclear weapons, but the development of the molten electrolyte thermal battery solved that problem.

* The "design life" of fission bombs is not limited by the decay of the fissile material but by the integrity of the other components which are required to detonate the weapon. Most fissile material can be reused to make new bombs, but the casings and circuitry will wear out, some in as little as 10 years, others possibly lasting as long as 50 years.

Nuclear power has no dangers. It is the opposite. Nuclear energy is a clean source for power production. It is even cleaner than solar energy. Power generation from nuclear energy is cheaper than that produced from solar, wind, gas, oil, and wind energy sources. Nuclear radiation from nuclear power plants is 100 times less than nuclear radiation from coal fired power plants.

Nuclear weapons are of mass destruction nature due to emitted nuclear radiation, heat, and pressure air waves.

A nuclear weapon can cause devastating effects including blast waves, heat, and radiation. They can destroy buildings, cause widespread fires, and release harmful radioactive fallout that can have long-term health consequences for those exposed. The size and type of nuclear weapon will determine the extent of the damage it can cause.

Nuclear weapons are primarily used as a deterrent to prevent other countries from attacking. They are seen as a last resort in case of extreme circumstances where a country's survival is threatened. Additionally, possessing nuclear weapons can give a country more influence and bargaining power in international relations.

He didn't. However his declaration that "although there are large amounts of energy in the atom it will always remain impossible to release" prompted Leo Szilard to invent the process of the Neutron Chain Reaction in 1933 that makes the bomb (and reactors) possible and patent it in 1934.

Mitigation measures for a nuclear explosion include evacuating the affected area, providing medical treatment for radiation exposure, monitoring radiation levels, implementing decontamination procedures, and establishing containment measures to prevent further spread of radiation. Additionally, preparedness plans, training drills, public education, and international cooperation are essential components of mitigation efforts.

The difference between an A-Bomb and H-Bomb is the energy reaction inside them, one of them is nuclear fusion and the other one is nuclear fission.

A-Bombs contain a unstable nuclei such as Uranium 235, whiles H-Bombs contain light stable isotopes of hydrogen and sometimes helium. Nuclear fusion is the merging of atoms/particles, whilst nuclear fission is the splitting and break down of a big unstable nuclei.

Utility decisions regarding which technological option to select when creating additional electricity generating capacity are chiefly based on an evaluation of the comparative costs of the options available. However most of the time these costs do not fully reflect the broader impacts ("externalities") of this energy choice on the economy and society at large. To formulate their future energy and resource development policies governments therefore have to take them into account whether of an economic environmental health or social nature which may support or discourage the adoption of a particular technology.

• The fireball was roughly 1500 feet in diameter (750 feet in radius).
• Blast damage was found at 10000 yards (30000 feet) to some of the bunkers.
• The blast was heard hundreds of miles away.

The atoll used by the US for nuclear weapons testing is called Bikini Atoll, located in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The infamous Castle Bravo test, the largest nuclear weapon ever detonated by the US, took place there in 1954.

With a fission bomb (A-bomb) there is a limit of how large it can be.

With a fusion bomb (H-bomb), there is NO limit to how large one can be. There may be a limit as to the size of a DELIVERABLE fusion bomb. But an H-bomb that isn't intended to be moved anywhere doesn't have a yield (size/power) limit.

So yes, an H bomb is the most powerful weapon that mankind has create, to date. An antimatter bomb could be more powerful, but mankind has yet been able to collect, handle, store antimatter in sufficient amounts as to create a powerful weapon.

The weight of a nuclear bomb can vary depending on its size and design, but they generally range from a few hundred pounds to several tons. For example, the "Little Boy" bomb dropped on Hiroshima weighed about 9,700 pounds, while modern nuclear warheads can be as small as a few hundred pounds.

No, a fridge cannot save you from a nuclear attack. It is not designed to withstand the impact of a nuclear explosion and would not provide adequate protection. It is important to follow emergency procedures and seek shelter in designated areas in the event of a nuclear attack.

Countries with nuclear weapons often push for non-proliferation to prevent other nations from acquiring such weapons. While each country has sovereignty, there are international agreements like the Non-Proliferation Treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. It is generally in the global interest to limit the number of countries with nuclear capabilities to maintain stability.

No, the largest ever built were 25 megaton warheads for the Titan II. But these were never installed on missiles, instead 9 megaton warheads were used. All Titan ICBMs are long retired and there were only 50 built total.

Currently the largest yield US bombs are roughly 600 kilotons.

A nuclear weapon specifically functions based off of different designs. Lets take the Hiroshima weapon for simplicity as this is the least complex design that is out there. The Hiroshima bomb called little boy is a simple gun type fission weapon. The weapon was designed using U-235. When the trigger on this weapon goes off, it sends a subcritical piece of Uranium down a cannon barrel to contact another piece of Uranium at the other end. The pieces meet at a certain speed causing a super critical state to be achieved. Once this occurs the nuclear chain occurs within the Uranium causing the massive release of energy that becomes the explosion. The actual function and numbers for the design of the weapon are classified; however, that is the simplified version of how the weapon detonates.

Yes, plutonium is used as a fuel in nuclear reactors, specifically in certain types of reactors like fast breeder reactors and some types of advanced reactors. Plutonium-239, which is produced from uranium-238 in nuclear reactors, is a key fuel component due to its ability to sustain fission reactions.

it might or might no be, one would have to know the yields of the 20 bombs as well as which eruption of vesuvius you are asking about. there is no such thing as a "typical" nuclear bomb yield or volcanic eruption.

No, a hydrogen bomb does not explode upon impact with the ground. The detonation of a hydrogen bomb is triggered by a specific mechanism designed to initiate the fusion reaction within the bomb's core.