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Nuclear Weapons

This category is for questions about weapons that use nuclear fission or fusion to gain explosive power.

3,869 Questions

What is the largest problem with nuclear power?

Under present world financial conditions I would say that the very high costs of building nuclear plants is a big problem. In the long term, dealing with the radioactive waste and decommissioning the plants safely.

What are the parts of the nuclear bomb?

Read Richard Rhodes books "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" for fission bombs and "Dark Sun" for fusion bombs, these are the authoritative unclassified sources at this time. He can do a lot better than I could by enumerating them.

What wave is produced in nuclear explosions?

Nuclear explosions produce a combination of shock waves, heat waves, and electromagnetic waves. The initial shock wave is the most destructive component, causing widespread damage and destruction near the explosion site.

Which type of radiation may be stopped by protective clothing and mask?

Alpha radiation particles can only harm you if ingested into the body by way of inhalation or body fluid contact. Full body clothing and particle masks can protect you, and it can be washed off the skin if it gets on you (the primary purpose for decontamination showers).

How much uranium is needed to make a nuclear weapon?

It typically takes about 15-25 kilograms of highly enriched uranium (HEU) or 3-5 kilograms of plutonium to make a nuclear weapon. The exact amount can vary depending on the design and efficiency of the weapon. The International Atomic Energy Agency closely monitors and regulates the use and handling of these nuclear materials to prevent proliferation.

How did ernest Rutherford make the nuclear bomb?

Ernest Rutherford did not make the nuclear bomb. He was a physicist who conducted pioneering work in the field of nuclear physics, particularly on the structure of the atom. The development of the nuclear bomb was primarily led by other scientists during the Manhattan Project in World War II.

How do you protect yourself from a nuclear bomb?

you can't protect yourself from it unless you have a very large room made completely of lead but sstill the lead would kill you just as the nuclear bomb would but it would just take more time to do so.

How fast is a nuclear explosion?

The explosion itself is over within a few microseconds, but it takes milliseconds to seconds for the fireball to expand to full size. The blast wave travels as a supersonic shock wave. Fires ignite later, mostly from fire sources knocked over or broken by the blast (the blast blows out initial direct flash fires before they can spread).

What is the Plutonium isotope composition of a nuclear bomb?

Typically, a nuclear bomb would use plutonium-239 as the primary isotope for fission. Plutonium-239 is preferred due to its high fissionability and ease of obtaining through processing in nuclear reactors. Small amounts of other plutonium isotopes, such as plutonium-240, may also be present due to the manufacturing process, but the majority would be plutonium-239.

What was the code name of the first nuclear explosion in history?

The first test explosion of a fission nuclear device was tested on July 16, 1945 at Alamogordo, New Mexico, as the culmination of the WWII Manhattan Project. The device and test, codenamed Trinity, had an estimated yield of approximately 20 kilotons, and was the first successful test of a plutonium implosion device.

There were many hi-speed cameras running to document the event, and they show the explosion at its initial detonation. The camera technology was pioneered by EG&G founder Harold Edgerton, and the still frame picture of the initial explosion of the Trinity test is one of the most iconic and famous photographs of the 20th century.

In the mid '90's following the breakup of the USSR, the Energy Department declassified many documents and test films, and they were eventually made into a documentary video named "Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie". It is an excellent record of the Trinity test and all subsequent milestone nuclear and thermonuclear detonations. It is available on DVD and is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the field or subject.

What are the short term effects of nuclear weapons?

Unfortunately there's no such thing as a short term effect

It depends on the area you're in when a blast occurs, and how close you are to the primary detonation, as well as the strength of the blast itself. Naturally, death by incineration is the most obvious if you're close enough, but rapid death from Beta-Gamma radiation, unless you were in a shielded area at the time, would occur in the days following if you survived. Trust me when I say you'd be better of dying in the initial explosion.

Alpha radiation contamination, carried in the fallout from nuclear explosions, is the most common radioactive hazard outside of the blast area for survivors. Though it's only hazardous when it gets into your body (meaning keep your mouth/nose covered, as well as any open cuts, and wash the skin if it gets exposed), it eventually will find its way into the food and water supply This knowledge is one reason the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which halted above ground, space and underwater testing in 1963 between the U.S. and USSR, was signed. It was found that fallout had raised contaminant levels in milk and other foods, in particular Strontium 90.

Why Annual dose limit for radiation workers was reduced from 5R to 2R?

The annual dose limit for radiation workers was reduced from 5R to 2R to better protect workers from potential health risks associated with radiation exposure. The new limit is based on updated scientific knowledge and recommendations to minimize the long-term effects of radiation exposure. This change reflects a more conservative approach to radiation safety in the workplace.

What chemical are in a nuclear bomb?

A nuclear bomb typically contains enriched uranium or plutonium as the main fissile material. When these atoms undergo nuclear fission, they release a massive amount of energy in the form of a nuclear explosion. Additionally, a nuclear bomb may also contain conventional high explosives to trigger the chain reaction and shape the blast.

If a nuclear bomb was detonated in Colorado would you feel it in Arizona?

That would depend on: * The location of the detonation. * Your location in Arizona. * The size of the detonation. For example: * Assume that it is a very large bomb that explodes in the Four Corners region of Colorado and you were standing in the Four Corners Region of Arizona a few feet away you can be assured that you would feel it even if only briefly before you were vaporized. * If you are comfortably seated in Yuma and a very tiny device were to Pop its Cork Northeast of Sterling near the Nebraska border you wouldn't notice a thing. When it comes to bombs Size really does matter. And like they say in real estate it all about Location Location Location.

Would Francium Blow Up A Bathtub?

Francium is a highly reactive alkali metal that would react vigorously with water, producing hydrogen gas. This reaction would likely result in an explosion in a small enclosed space like a bathtub. However, it's important to note that Francium is extremely rare and radioactive, so the chances of encountering it in a typical bathtub scenario are virtually nonexistent.

Is a tomic bomb is an example of fusion or fission or annihilation?

A atomic bomb is an example of fission, as it relies on the splitting (or fission) of heavy atomic nuclei to release a massive amount of energy. Fusion, on the other hand, involves the merging of lighter atomic nuclei, while annihilation is the complete conversion of matter into energy in particle-antiparticle collisions.

Can nuclear power plants make nuclear weapons?

It can produce low grade plutonium that need be extracted from the used nuclear fuel through used fuel reprocessing. However, power reactors are subject to the international nuclear safeguards to prevent its misuse.

Which of these can radiation travel through?

Radiation can travel through air, water, and some solids like glass and metals. However, the ability of radiation to pass through different materials depends on the type of radiation (such as alpha, beta, or gamma) and the thickness and density of the material.

How much land does a nuclear bomb blow up?

The amount of land destroyed by a nuclear bomb depends on the bomb's yield and how it's designed. The blast radius of a nuclear bomb can range from a few hundred meters to several kilometers, and the effects of radiation and fallout can extend much farther. The destruction can vary greatly based on factors like the bomb's design, size, and placement.

Why is the hydrogen bomb dependent on the atomic bomb?

A hydrogen bomb is a fusion nuclear weapon, and the "regular" atomic bomb is a fission one. Both are an example of an "atomic bomb" in the general sense. But we know what you're asking, and here's the answer. In a fission weapon, subcritical masses of fissile material (usually plutonium) are driven together with conventional explosives to cause criticality, supercriticality and the blast. In a hydrogen bomb, the only way to get things hot enough for fusion to begin to occur is by virtue of the heat generated by a fission weapon. A fission blast will, if things are set up correctly, set off a fusion blast. Big, big, bigboom! That's the long and short of it. To build a hydrogen (fusion) weapon, you have to build a fission bomb "around" or "up against" components to cause fusion to occur in the heat of the fission reaction when that fission bomb goes off. Our sun is a gigantic fusion machine. It is similar to a hydrogen bomb in that both fuse hydrogen into helium. On the sun, it happens all the time in a continuous event. Here on earth, it's a one-shot affair and a massive boom!

What metals are used in nuclear weapons?

You may find

Beryllium

Plutonium

Uranium / Depleted Uranium

Gold

Gallium

Steel

Aluminum

Copper

among others.

Older weapons may have had polonium in them too for old urchin-like initiation systems. most modern neutron tube based initiation systems probably use a metal hydride target to generate the neutrons.

Whose nuclear weapons are stronger - the US or Russia?

Let's hope we never find out. The Soviet Union was shown not to have as many weapons as they boasted after the fall of communism. It is reasonable to assume the current weapons stocks of Russia are not as deep as those of the United States, who pours money into such things.

Tests on nuclear weapons have been banned for some time now both below, and above ground. So there's not much room for improvement in terms of making a more potent bomb or warhead.

Where did the first nuclear explosion occur?

The first nuclear explosion occurred at the Trinity test site in New Mexico, USA on July 16, 1945. It was part of the Manhattan Project, the secret American program to develop the atomic bomb during World War II.

What are nuclear bombs made out of?

Nuclear bombs are made of highly enriched uranium or plutonium. These materials undergo a nuclear fission chain reaction, releasing enormous amounts of energy in the form of heat and radiation, resulting in a powerful explosion. Additionally, nuclear bombs contain conventional high explosive materials to trigger the nuclear reaction and amplify the blast.

When was the first atomic explosion?

There has never been an atomic detonation to date in mexican territory. Since the country sponsored and signed the Treaty of Tlatelolco wich objective is to ban any nuclear based weapon in Latin America, it is still unlikely that Mexico would develop or test nuclear weapons.