Nuclear+Power+and+The+Atomic+Bomb.+ALIGHT

All of these researchers individual discoveries and improvments led up to the invention of the most influential weapon in history. The Atomic Bomb is the single most devastating weapon ever created on our planet, able to destroy cities in a matter of seconds. The sheer force is enough to turn houses and buildings into shrapnel. The atomic bomb is one of the only weapons that countries have actually feared so much that they create a pact, that even in the worst times of war, they will never resort to using nuclear weapons. The power of a nuclear weapon is astounding and none can deny its power, but what makes one so powerful? well, basically a very unstable atom is hit with a neutron, when it is hit it splits into two atoms that release heat, gamma rays, and 2-3 more neutrons. These neutrons then strike more atoms and they split, thus creating a chain reaction producing heat and gamma rays at an exponential rate. This process is called fission and is the fundamental concept behind how a incredibly powerful bomb is made.

A recreation of the Atomic Bomb (codenamed "Little Boy") dropped on Hiroshima. media type="youtube" key="gVeJ9Un8jPA" width="425" height="350"

Fission bombs like the one showed above, were very powerful but not very efficient. Only about 1.5% of the fuel was consumed before being blown away. To solve this, a new bomb was created. one that use the opposite concept. the concept of Fusion, or the joining of two atoms. In fusion, two small atoms are thrown at each other and they combine. When this happens, alot of energy is given off along with 1-2 neutrons. A fusion bomb, also known as a thermonuclear bomb is much more devastating at about 700 times more destructive than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. a fusion bomb has never been used in war.