The process of nuclear fission. Taken from http://visual.merriam-webster.com/science/chemistry/matter/nuclear-fission.php.
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Nuclear Fission to the Atomic BombNuclear fission is the process of a neutron striking the nucleus of an atom and splitting it into smaller atoms. This process releases large amounts of energy. This process was originally discovered by the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi in the 1930's. Eventually, as more scientists expanded on his work, they discovered that nuclear fission creates enormous amounts of energy and that if one atom underwent nuclear fission, it would create a chain reaction of nuclear fissions among the surrounding atoms. These new technologies helped to create the first kind of nuclear weapon: the atomic bomb.
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How the Atomic Bomb WorksThe atomic bomb uses the radioactive isotopes of either Uranium-235, Uranium-233, and Plutonium-239. The radioactive isotope (in this example, it will be U-235) is made into a small bullet on one end and on the other end is a large sphere. When the bomb is dropped from the plane, the barometer on the bomb measures the altitude as it descends. When the bomb measures the right pressure in the atmosphere, it triggers explosives that drive the U-235 bullet into the U-235 sphere and generator. This creates nuclear fission, and it creates the massive explosion of shock waves, heat, and radiation.
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Cutaway of a nuclear fission bomb. Diagram taken from http://blogs.saschina.org/chemicalparadigms/
2011/04/13/how-do-nuclear-bombs-work/. |
Fun FactSeven countries are known to possess nuclear weapons: China, Russia, USA, the United Kingdom, France, India, and Pakistan. Israel is suspected of having nuclear weapons. North Korea is known to be pursuing nuclear weapons, while Iran is suspected of pursuing nuclear weapons.
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A diagram of the nuclear fusion process. Taken from http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story_old/images/chap13_nuclear_fusion_2007.gif
An example of a nuclear fusion equation. Taken from http://media.wiley.com/Lux/31/167931.image0.png.
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Nuclear Fusion to the Hydrogen BombNuclear fusion is the process where two smaller nuclei are combined to make a larger nucleus, creating enormous amounts of energy. The two heated nuclei crash into each other at such a high velocity that they fuse together. It was discovered in the 1940's, after scientists such as F.W. Aston and Sir Arthur Edington made links to the fact that the energy created by the sun is related to nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusions power stars, where 4 Hydrogen-1 isotopes are fused to create Helium-4 isotopes in a series of nuclear reactions. When the military discovered this, they realized that it could be used to create even more powerful weapons. Edward Teller, basing his work off of discoveries of Aston and Sir Edington, created the first hydrogen bomb, which was detonated on November 1, 1952 at Enewetak Atoll.
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How the Hydrogen Bomb WorksThe hydrogen bomb, also known as a thermonuclear bomb, works using the processes of nuclear fission and fusion. First, within the bomb, an atomic explosion occurs using the traditional style of atomic bomb, where a bullet of U-235 rams into a larger mass of U-235, creating nuclear fission. This creates an explosion, which generates enough heat for nuclear fusion to take place. Isotopes of hydrogen, mainly H-2 (Deuterium) and H-3 (Tritum) are fused together under this intense heat. The energy from all the isotopes of hydrogen fusing together produces an immense amount of energy, making an even more massive explosion than the atomic bomb. Hydrogen bombs are over 1000 times more explosive than atomic bombs, and are the most destructive weapons ever produced to date.
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A diagram of a hydrogen bomb. Taken from http://www.zamandayolculuk.com/cetinbal/09/3hydrogenbombsequence.jpg
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Atomic Bomb vs. Hydrogen Bomb
In the diagram below, Hiroshima and Trinity are atomic bombs, while Mike, Bravo, and Tzar Bomba are hydrogen bombs. The Soviet Tzar Bomba was the largest bomb ever exploded.
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Diagram taken from http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DIOoI1b9hdA/UBs51xQqo_I/AAAAAAAACHM/tubxK7dlYMU/s640/Copy-of-tumblr_lhowe4kIeX1qa0uuj.jpg
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