E=mc2 (where the 2 is squared) is how nuclear bombs work. Essentially you start with material that weighs a given amount. A reaction takes place that reduces the mass of the material. The difference between the before and after masses is converted into energy – a lot of it. E=mc2 (in words, energy equals the mass difference times the speed of light squared) describes the situation. Because the speed of light is such a large number, even when you multiply a small mass by it, it produces a large amount of energy.
Stevens answer is good, i will just answer it from a more direct angle.
It depends on the type of weapon, as they either work from nuclear fission (the process of splitting materials) or nuclear fusion (the process of fusing materials).
Fission weapons are generally called atom bombs, one of these was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, August 6, 1945.
Fusion weapons are referred to as thermonuclear weapons, and they use a fission explosion to get the bomb going, so a primary then secondary reaction. One of these was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, August 9th, 1945.
These are the horrors of our technological ability.
Hi Lachy and Drunktinyturtle,
Nuclear bombs involve “nuclear reactions”. Normally when we carry out chemical reactions, we form new compounds from atoms/ions, and this process involve the movement of electrons (but the nucleus of each atom/ion – which contains protons and neutrons – stays the same as it was before) – so they are known as “electronic reactions”. “Nuclear reactions” are a different kind of reaction – they involve the nuclei actually reacting.
There are 2 kinds of nuclear reaction – “nuclear fission” and “nuclear fusion”, both of which produce a lot of energy.
Nuclear fission involves atoms splitting into smaller particles (‘splitting the atom’), so neutrons and protons are released, along with gamma rays and a lot of energy. Atomic bombs (or atom bombs) like the one that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945 involve fission reactions.
Nuclear fusion involves atoms fusing together to produce larger atoms, which means that they form atoms of a different element. This is the kind of reaction that takes place in the sun – hydrogen atoms undergo fusion to form helium, and this is the source of the sun’s energy. The Hydrogen Bomb also works like this.
So nuclear bombs involve either of these types of nuclear reaction (or sometimes both) occurring inside them, and they produce a LOT of energy, which is why their explosions are so powerful!
E=mc2 (where the 2 is squared) is how nuclear bombs work. Essentially you start with material that weighs a given amount. A reaction takes place that reduces the mass of the material. The difference between the before and after masses is converted into energy – a lot of it. E=mc2 (in words, energy equals the mass difference times the speed of light squared) describes the situation. Because the speed of light is such a large number, even when you multiply a small mass by it, it produces a large amount of energy.
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Stevens answer is good, i will just answer it from a more direct angle.
It depends on the type of weapon, as they either work from nuclear fission (the process of splitting materials) or nuclear fusion (the process of fusing materials).
Fission weapons are generally called atom bombs, one of these was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, August 6, 1945.
Fusion weapons are referred to as thermonuclear weapons, and they use a fission explosion to get the bomb going, so a primary then secondary reaction. One of these was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, August 9th, 1945.
These are the horrors of our technological ability.
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Hi Lachy and Drunktinyturtle,
Nuclear bombs involve “nuclear reactions”. Normally when we carry out chemical reactions, we form new compounds from atoms/ions, and this process involve the movement of electrons (but the nucleus of each atom/ion – which contains protons and neutrons – stays the same as it was before) – so they are known as “electronic reactions”. “Nuclear reactions” are a different kind of reaction – they involve the nuclei actually reacting.
There are 2 kinds of nuclear reaction – “nuclear fission” and “nuclear fusion”, both of which produce a lot of energy.
Nuclear fission involves atoms splitting into smaller particles (‘splitting the atom’), so neutrons and protons are released, along with gamma rays and a lot of energy. Atomic bombs (or atom bombs) like the one that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945 involve fission reactions.
Nuclear fusion involves atoms fusing together to produce larger atoms, which means that they form atoms of a different element. This is the kind of reaction that takes place in the sun – hydrogen atoms undergo fusion to form helium, and this is the source of the sun’s energy. The Hydrogen Bomb also works like this.
So nuclear bombs involve either of these types of nuclear reaction (or sometimes both) occurring inside them, and they produce a LOT of energy, which is why their explosions are so powerful!
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Well answered by the others and not my area of expertise
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