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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 percent of the world's countries have nuclear weapons?
As of November 4th 2013 there are 9 countries that possess nuclear weapons -- United States, Russia, France, United Kingdom, China, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea. Depending on one's definition there are between 193 and 250 countries currently, which means approximately 3.7 to 4.7% have nuclear weapons.
Sources in the related link section.
What countries have or have use Dirty bombs?
so called "dirty bombs" cannot be built and stockpiled like nuclear weapons can. they must be assembled shortly before use. a "dirty bomb" is simply a conventional bomb wrapped in radioactive waste, the detonation of the conventional bomb scatters the radioactive waste thus making it "dirty". the problem with making a "dirty bomb" is that radiation from the radioactive waste will almost certainly kill anyone involved in the assembly of the bomb.
countries are very unlikely to seriously consider making such bombs, only terrorist groups are likely to attempt it.
What country has exploded a nuclear bomb in space?
The U.S. exploded more than half a dozen hydrogen bombs in space. They produced strangely colored glowing clouds right after the explosion and dangerous radiation belts that remained for weeks (causing auroras). Several shots done over the Pacific Ocean triggered electrical blackouts in Hawaii from EMP. One shot actually delayed a Gemini mission launch to avoid the chance of exposing the astronauts to high levels of radiation.
How did the USSR intend to protect its self?
The USSR intended to protect itself by building a huge army and by developing nuclear weapons.
What is the name of people who make nuclear weapons?
There is no specific name for people who create nuclear weapons.
Why North Korea start fight with USA about nuke or something?
Because recently, North Korea's leaders have been small, fat, wimpy guys. They probably think that missiles and nuclear bomb development makes them appear to be big tough guys. This is called, "Compensating".
When was Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant sarcophagus created?
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant sarcophagus was created in 1986.
The US performed the first nuclear weapon test on July 16, 1945.
What would be the top 10 targets for a nuclear attack on the US?
Depends on whether you're talking terrorism or military strike.
Two submersibles were actually involved in the recovery of the Mk-28 weapon lost over the water near Palomares, Spain. The DSV Alvin located the weapon lost in the Mediterranean Sea in 1966. It found the weapon on March 17, but was dropped and lost when it was being raised. The Alvin submersible found the weapon again on April 2 at a depth of 880 meters. Then, another submersible, the unmanned torpedo recovery vehicle CURV-III attempted to raise the weapon on April 7. The weapon was raised, along with the CURV by the USS Petrel, and then taken back to the United States by the USS Cascade.
Why can you not make a hydrogen bomb?
Scientists have long tried to make a pure Hydrogen weapon, the problem with all the designs that have been attempted is the compression of the Hydrogen material to its flash point. Hydrogen can be compressed under great pressure to make a functioning weapon; however, the only way we have managed to do this practically is through the Teller-Ulam design. This design uses a nuclear fission weapon to compress the Hydrogen within a secondary device to start a fusion reaction.
Without the ability to use a fission weapon to ignite the Hydrogen, we do not have a way to compress it to its flash point. There are still design attempts that have been circulated to make a pure fusion Hydrogen weapon, but none have been tested and the problem of getting Hydrogen to flash is always the founding problem. Most designs have been abandoned, and there are currently no known developmental plans by the United States to Pursue this design.
What city did Roosevelt drop a nuke on?
Neither president Roosevelt ordered atomic bombs dropped on anyplace.
- Teddy Roosevelt died in January 1919 and never heard anything about nuclear weapons.
- Franklin Roosevelt died in April 1945, he was replaced by Harry Truman who authorized the use of the atomic bombs but did not select the targets they would be use on (he left that decision up to the Army).
What did the us do to the bikini atoll?
In July of 1946, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Bikini Atoll. In the coming years, the island was used for another twenty additional bomb tests.
What were the first five countries involved in nuclear weapons?
the first five countries that were involved in nuclear weapons are as follows;
- United States
- Germany
- Great Britain
- Russia
- Argentina
What year did the US spend the most money on nuclear bombs?
I don't have the exact year, but it was during Ronald Reagan's term as president.
What makes nuclear weapons different than other weapons?
Nuclear weapons, biological weapons, and chemical weapons (aka, weapons of mass destruction) are different from other weapons because they:
- cause indiscriminate damage, often over wide unpredictable areas outside the intended target area
- produce long term often permanent and disabling injuries to even those with only minor exposure
- survivors usually must go through extensive decontamination procedures before medical personnel can treat the survivors' injuries without endangering their own lives, this will cause more fatalities either due to delay of treatments and/or inadequate or incorrect decontamination procedures
- both nuclear weapons and biological weapons could "run away" under certain conditions and have effects on a global scale, altering the environment and/or causing plagues, affecting both combatant and neutral countries indiscriminately (chemical weapons typically cannot do this)
- etc.
How many nations have used nuclear weapon in an aggressive manner?
One, the US to end WW2.
There has been alot of saberrattling since then with them, but no use.
What was a major fear that people in postwar America had about the use of nuclear weapons?
The Hydrogen bomb was a major fear that people in postwar America had about the use of nuclear weapons.
Why were nuclear weapons even considered to be built?
Fear that someone else would build them first and attack the US or our allies.
During World War 2 the "someone" was Nazi Germany and the nuclear weapon was the atomic fission bomb, during the Cold War the "someone" was the USSR and the nuclear weapon was the hydrogen fusion bomb.
The US clearly won the race with Nazi Germany as their project derailed early due to multiple errors and oversights by their scientists and the work was redirected away from bombs to prototype reactors, however the US and USSR both developed and fielded practical megaton range hydrogen bombs in the same year: 1955, making that race effectively a tie!!!
What is the lifespan of nuclear weapons?
Varies with the design and components used in the bomb.
- The MK-I & MK-III used in WW2 used a neutron source that had a lifespan of less than 6 months.
- The MK-III battery was uncharged when the bomb was assembled in the field. Once assembled and the battery charged it had to be recharged every 3 day if the bomb was not used. If the bomb was not used within 9 days it had to be completely disassembled to replace the dead battery to prevent corrosion.
- It was not until the late 1950s and the development of thermal batteries that fully assembled bombs with batteries ready to go could be stored for long periods.
- Bombs using Tritium boost gas had to have their Tritium tank replaced about every 12 years due to radioactive decay of Tritium.
- Many components in early bombs degraded prematurely due to exposure to radiation. This was especially true of plastic seals & wire insulation. The degradation rate was highly unpredictable.
- The high explosives in many early bombs degraded, often becoming highly unstable with time. This varied dramatically from one type of explosive to another.
- etc.
Which countries used nuclear weapons during the war?
The only country that has ever used nuclear weapons in any war was the US, at the end of WW2.
Who were the first ones to use nuclear weapons in war?
The United States of America used the first nuclear weapon in war, when they bombed Japan.
