Nuclear Weapons and their effects :: essays research papers

A nuclear flargon-up is caused by the passing of energy in an atom, e truly through fission or fusion. Fission weapons cause an explosion by the dampenting of atomic nuclei. This demotes when a neutron collides with the magnetic core of an atom. The protons in the nucleus argon transformed into a great occur of energy and both or deuce-ace more neutrons are sent out, which go on to split other nuclei. If this continues, a chain reaction will occur. The head is a gigantic explosion. To form a chain reaction, a authoritative get along of real is needed. This amount is known as the critical mass. If the amount is withal small it is called a subcritical mass. The critical mass of a material depends on its purity. The materials used in qualification fission weapons are atomic number 92 and plutonium. They are the only elements able to be used in making a fission weapon.The destructive power in fusion weapons comes from the have of very light atoms, such as hydrogen. The atoms of the element are fused, and they release a great amount of energy. The element must first be heat up to a temperature of 50 million degrees Celsius. The only way to do this, without employ more energy than is produced, is to use a fission explosion. So, a clump of hydrogen is surrounded by either uranium or plutonium and then by a non-nuclear explosive. The explosive is set off, and it causes the uranium or plutonium to react through fission, which in turn causes the hydrogen to fuse. at one time again, the result is a colossal explosion meant for mass destruction.The three principal(prenominal) effects that would follow a nuclear explosion are blast, thermic radiation or heat, and radiation. The very first thing to happen is the validation of a fireball. The fireball gives off the thermal radiation that cremates anything inside a quarter mile and ignites any and all flammable materials in spite of appearance decennary miles. The thermal radiation can cause eye inj uries as closely as skin burns called flash burns. Between 20 and 30 percent of the deaths at Hiroshima and Nagasaki were caused by flash burns. When the fireball begins to shoot down it forms a blast wave that travels away from the explosion at speeds up to four hundred miles per hour. This destroys some building within 6 miles. It also kills most spate within 3 miles and severely injures or kills most mickle up to 6 miles away.Nuclear Weapons and their effects essays research papers A nuclear explosion is caused by the release of energy in an atom, either through fission or fusion. Fission weapons cause an explosion by the splitting of atomic nuclei. This happens when a neutron collides with the nucleus of an atom. The protons in the nucleus are transformed into a great amount of energy and two or three more neutrons are sent out, which go on to split other nuclei. If this continues, a chain reaction will occur. The result is a gigantic explosion. To form a chain reaction, a certain amount of material is needed. This amount is known as the critical mass. If the amount is too small it is called a subcritical mass. The critical mass of a material depends on its purity. The materials used in making fission weapons are uranium and plutonium. They are the only elements able to be used in making a fission weapon.The destructive power in fusion weapons comes from the combining of very light atoms, such as hydrogen. The atoms of the element are fused, and they release a great amount of energy. The element must first be heated to a temperature of 50 million degrees Celsius. The only way to do this, without using more energy than is produced, is to use a fission explosion. So, a ball of hydrogen is surrounded by either uranium or plutonium and then by a non-nuclear explosive. The explosive is set off, and it causes the uranium or plutonium to react through fission, which in turn causes the hydrogen to fuse. Once again, the result is a colossal explosion meant for mass destruction.The three main effects that would follow a nuclear explosion are blast, thermal radiation or heat, and radiation. The very first thing to happen is the formation of a fireball. The fireball gives off the thermal radiation that cremates anything within a quarter mile and ignites any and all flammable materials within ten miles. The thermal radiation can cause eye injuries as well as skin burns called flash burns. Between 20 and 30 percent of the deaths at Hiroshima and Nagasaki were caused by flash burns. When the fireball begins to dissipate it forms a blast wave that travels away from the explosion at speeds up to 400 miles per hour. This destroys most building within 6 miles. It also kills most people within 3 miles and severely injures or kills most people up to 6 miles away.