The atomic bomb changed warfare and changed geopolitics of the world. This article is a compilation of atomic bomb facts that are a must read.
Atomic Bomb Facts: Creation
The atomic bomb was made possible due to new discoveries in nuclear physics, which unlocked the immense power locked in radioactive atoms. Here are the atom bomb facts about the creation of the first atom bomb and the advances in science and technology that made it possible.
- The atomic bomb is based on the artificially induced phenomenon of nuclear fission. The atoms of radioactive elements like Uranium or Plutonium are bombarded with slow neutrons, which makes them unstable and they split into lighter elements, releasing tremendous amount of energy in the process. Along with the energy release, more neutrons are released in the process, which subsequently cause the fission of more atoms, triggering a 'Chain Reaction'. The explosion of atomic bomb is the triggering of such an uncontrolled fission chain reaction.
- Nuclear Energy plants or nuclear reactors are based on the same principle as the atom bomb. The only difference is that it uses a controlled fission chain reaction for peaceful use.
- The process of nuclear fission was discovered by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann in 1938. The first atomic bomb was created by the United States of America in a military project, dubbed as 'Manhattan Project', which involved thousands of scientists, engineers and technicians, working under the leadership of Robert Oppenheimer in Los Alamos.
- The allied forces, led by USA, started the project to develop the bomb, partly out of fear that the Nazi government of Germany was developing one too. On 16th of July 1945, the first successful test of an atomic bomb was conducted in the desert situated North of Alamogordo in New Mexico. The test was code named 'Trinity' and the bomb exploded was a plutonium implosion device, releasing heat and energy equivalent to almost 19 kilotons of TNT (Trinitrotoluene) explosions!
- The total estimated cost of the Manhattan project was $20 million.
Neither the ones who used the atomic bomb for the first time, nor the ones on whom it was used, can ever forget that moment in human history. It left a deep scar on the psyche of humanity. Here are the atom bomb facts, that talk about its use in the world war II, what led to it and what were the consequences.
- Partly stung by Japan's attack on Pearl harbor, United States dropped the atomic bomb, codenamed 'Little Boy' on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. After that, another atomic bomb codenamed 'Fat Man' was dropped over another Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. In the first four months after the two bombings, about 90,000 to 166,000 people died in Hiroshima, while about 60,000 to 80,000 people lost lives in Nagasaki. Half of the reported deaths in both the cities occurred on the same day, within hours of the bombings. Needless to say, Japan surrendered unconditionally in a few days and the second world war came to an end.
- What makes an atomic bomb strike, even more deadly is that it leaves behind radioactive waste, which causes genetic mutations and cancers. Hundreds of people died in coming years due to cancers and other diseases caused due to radioactive waste exposure in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Since the second world war, the countries who possess nuclear weapons have increased in number. World is an even more dangerous place now, than it was in the war years. Within minutes, more than half the population of the world could be wiped out, if a nuclear war is triggered! These atomic bomb facts are a status update of nuclear proliferation in the world.
- Today as many as eight nations acknowledge the possession of nuclear weapons. This nuclear club includes USA, UK, Russia, France, People's Republic of China, India, Pakistan and North Korea.
- Today, an even more deadlier nuclear weapon in the form of the Hydrogen bomb has been developed, which is thousands of times more deadlier than an atomic bomb. Classified as a thermonuclear device, a hydrogen bomb uses both fission and fusion reactions to unleash hell when detonated. These thermonuclear weapons can cause damage equivalent to or more than 50 million tons of TNT explosives!
- With the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, the delivery of atom bombs has become even more easier and deadlier! Many countries possess capability of launching nuclear warheads targeting places thousands of miles away.
- In 1966, during the cold war, as many as 32,193 nuclear warheads and bombs were built and ready for deployment!
- Since 1951, the total number of nuclear missiles developed by USA is 67,500. By 1990, US had a stock pile of 70,000 nuclear warheads and bombs!
- Nuclear weapons news today shows that many more developing countries are in the process of acquiring the technology to build nuclear weapons. International efforts are underway to undertake large scale voluntary nuclear disarmament.
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