how the atomic bomb works crash course

How does an atomic bomb work in simple terms?

They work due to a chain reaction called induced nuclear fission, whereby a sample of a heavy element (Uranium-235 or Plutonium-239) is struck by neutrons from a neutron generator. The nuclei of the fuel atoms split, releasing massive amounts of energy and more neutrons, which perpetuate the reaction.

What is the working principle of the atomic bomb 1 point?

The fission process Sequence of events in the fission of a uranium nucleus by a neutron. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. In an atomic bomb or nuclear reactor, first a small number of neutrons are given enough energy to collide with some fissionable nuclei, which in turn produce additional free neutrons.

Did Einstein have anything to do with atom bomb?

Although he never worked directly on the atomic bomb, Einstein is often incorrectly associated with the advent of nuclear weapons. His famous equation E=mc2 explains the energy released in an atomic bomb but doesn't explain how to build one.

What are 5 facts about the atomic bomb?

10 Facts About the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and NagasakiThere were five Japanese cities on the US's initial hit list and Nagasaki was not one of them. ... The Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs were based on very different designs. ... The codename for at least one of the bombs was taken from the film noir movie The Maltese Falcon.More items...

Is Hiroshima still radioactive?

Is there still radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? The radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki today is on a par with the extremely low levels of background radiation (natural radioactivity) present anywhere on Earth. It has no effect on human bodies.

What is the principle behind nuclear reactor and atom bomb?

Nuclear reactors operate on the principle of nuclear fission, the process in which a heavy atomic nucleus splits into two smaller fragments.

What was Einstein's IQ level?

2. Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist and philosopher of science whose estimated IQ scores range from 205 to 225 by different measures. He is best known for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2 which has been called the world's most famous equation.

Did the U.S. warn Japan before bombing?

The president of the USA, Harry Truman, warned the Japanese to surrender. When they did not, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing around 40,000 people and wounding 60,000. Japan quickly surrendered.

Who really invented the atomic bomb?

Robert OppenheimerJ. Robert Oppenheimer is often called the "father of the atomic bomb" for leading the Manhattan Project, the program that developed the first nuclear weapon during World War II.

How the atomic bomb was built?

A discovery by nuclear physicists in a laboratory in Berlin, Germany, in 1938 made the first atomic bomb possible, after Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassman discovered nuclear fission. When an atom of radioactive material splits into lighter atoms, there's a sudden, powerful release of energy.

How did Little Boy detonate?

Detonated by a mechanism that resembled a cannon, Little Boy had a muzzle or target that was a hollowed-out subcritical mass of uranium. The cannon ball was another subcritical mass of uranium, which fit perfectly into the hollow of the target as a plug.

What is the difference between atomic bomb and nuclear bomb?

A nuclear bomb is a bomb that uses nuclear fission which is the splitting of an atom into two or more particles and nuclear fusion which is the fusion of two or more atoms into one large one while an atomic bomb is a type of nuclear bomb that uses nuclear fission.

Why did Truman drop the atomic bomb?

Besides immediate military victory, two other reasons factored into this decision. One, to justify its monumental cost.

What was the name of the bomb that hit Hiroshima?

At just after 8 in the morning Hiroshima time, the Enola Gay dropped a 10,000 pound uranium-235 bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" that exploded over the city. This was the first and deadliest atomic bombing in history.

How many people died in the Nagasaki bombing?

About 200,000 people died in the bombings and in the months afterward. Japan surrendered unconditionally.

What was the name of the bomber that took off from Japan?

One, to justify its monumental cost. And two, to intimidate all enemies, present and future, of the United States. [the bombs] On August 6th, 1945, the Enola Gay, a B-29 Superfortress Bomber named after the mother of the pilot, took off from an island six hours away from Japan.

How many people were involved in the Manhattan Project?

Government sponsored, multi-year, multi-sided, field-defining work. The Manhattan Project involved 43,000 people, including a who's who of European and North American scientists in the 40s. From Szilárd and Fermi, to the great Hungarian-American mathematician and computer scientist, John von Neumann.

What was the biggest enemy of the democratic world in 1945?

By mid-1945 the biggest enemy of the democratic world was no longer Germany. The Allies had invaded and retaken France in June. Now the US wanted to end the Pacific war with Japan. And the United States had a totally new weapon, one that created devastation on an unprecedented scale.

When did the US test nuclear weapons?

Jokes aside, the United States and Soviet Union continued to build and test these weapons. Between 1946 and 1958, the US tested a series of giant nuclear bombs at Bikini Atoll, which caused permanent damage, displacing the Bikini islanders. Forever.