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How does an Atomic Bomb Work?
Replica of the "Fat Man" atom bomb in a museum
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  • Written By: Michael Anissimov
  • Edited By: L. S. Wynn
  • Image By: Ambuj Saxena
  • Last Modified Date: 29 October 2011
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An atom bomb works by initiating a nuclear chain reaction, which releases a huge amount of energy relative to conventional explosives. Per unit volume, an atom bomb may be millions or billions of times more powerful than TNT. The first atomic explosion occurred on 16 July 1945 at the Alamogordo Test Range in New Mexico, during a test called Trinity. It was developed during the top secret Manhattan Project, which was directed by General Leslie R. Groves of the US Army.

Nuclear reactions occur when neutrons are fired at closely packed atoms with heavy nuclei (uranium or plutonium isotopes). These heavy nuclei break apart into lighter nuclei when hit by a neutron, in turn generating more neutrons which bombard other nuclei, creating a chain reaction. This process is known as fission. (Another process known as fusion releases energy by fusing together nuclei rather than breaking them apart.) By breaking down the nuclei themselves rather than releasing energy through a conventional chemical reaction, atom bombs can release more than 80 terajoules of energy per kilogram (TJ/kg).

In the earliest bombs, the chain reaction was initiated simply by firing two half-spheres of high purity uranium isotope at one another in a small chamber. In updated designs, a uranium or plutonium bomb core is surrounded by high-explosive lenses designed to compress the core upon detonation. The compressed core goes critical, initiating a chain reaction that persists until many of the heavy nuclei have been broken apart.

The atom bomb and its cousin the hydrogen bomb have probably been the most powerful weapons in the world since their creation many decades ago. Large bombs can destroy entire cities. Thousands of atom bombs have been detonated, though only two have been used in warfare - both used by the US against Japan during World War II. There are seven countries that openly declare possessing nuclear weapons; the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, the People's Republic of China, India and Pakistan. The world currently possesses enough nuclear capability to make the human race go extinct many times over.

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anon225781
Post 102
At least it helped me. I'm kind of satisfied. It needs a lot of pictures for better knowledge and sure bombs are okay for projects but dangerous for practice.
anon191969
Post 100
this is probably not the best thing in the world.
anon156513
Post 94
I agree it does need pictures but the information is very well thought out.
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anon124662
Post 93
If we could be extinct several times over, exactly how many do you think would be possible? I'm just asking cause "several" is pretty vague to me. Is it two? Six? Two-hundred-sixty-seven? Just my curiosity wanting to know!
anon114321
Post 89
Enough to kill us all? How wonderfully reassuring.
anon114208
Post 88
thanks. I'm doing a big project on Niels Borh (he created the atomic bomb).
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anon89065
Post 83
Great info. Especially the fact that the people have enough of these bombs to the destroy the world over and over again.
anon75076
Post 69
this has helped me a lot.
anon75073
Post 68
thanks a lot.
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anon73526
Post 67
I've been wondering about this for a while, thanks.
anon72302
Post 64
this site is so good! i needed extra credit in science and this totally helped.
anon69852
Post 61
thank you so much. i really needed this info. i'm doing weapons and strategy in World War II
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anon69836
Post 60
Great, thanks. saved me on my project and came up in my marks!
anon66654
Post 58
Nice. thanks a lot
anon63775
Post 54
cool beans. thanks a lot.
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anon59504
Post 52
thanks. now i know how it works. =)
anon58548
Post 51
This saved my life. I have a big project and the a bomb is the subject.
anon49334
Post 48
This saved my life. I have a big project and the a bomb is the subject.
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anon46182
Post 46
what chemicals react together to make the bomb explode?
anon46090
Post 45
what excactly is able to split the atom?
anon44590
Post 44
I really thought the atomic bomb was just from a simple atom being split.
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anon40299
Post 43
you really need pictures.
anon35356
Post 42
a simple cartoon type video would help as well as the plain info which helps understand the process easily
gerbilkill
Post 41
why do people attempt these vile destruction projects anyway? i am no hippy. why have something that could kill everyone?
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anon32578
Post 39
How is the reaction started? Is it due to the impact or is there an electronic trigger?
druznak
Post 22
Thank you so much I have always wondered about this. It's crazy to think that something so terrifying can be so fundamentally simple. thanks again
jujment699
Post 14
I think this article is great and very informative. please explain how the fission process is started.
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anon20107
Post 13
wow. this is exactly what i need for my project! this answers everything. thanks a lot! this website is soooooooooo handy!
anon16609
Post 11
if water exists on mars, can we use this technology by exploding nuclear bombs around mars with the intentions of creating "atmosphere"?
anon16447
Post 10
why havent u said that berylium and polonium is the trigger that gives the neutrons needed to start the fission process?
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anon14021
Post 9
But why are atomic weapons so destructive?
boom27777777
Post 8
This answered a lot of my questions.
anon5838
Post 4
Wonderful info.....Need pictures!!!!!!!!

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