• Question: how dose a nuclear bomb work

    Asked by cowen to Asif, Laura, Lena, Sean, Viv on 20 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Lena Ciric

      Lena Ciric answered on 20 Mar 2012:

      It works using nuclear fission – the splitting of the atom. You need enough fuel (usually uranium-235 or plutonium-239) to keep a chain reaction going. A chain reaction is started by either using chemical explosives or compressing the fuel. This starts the splitting of some of the atoms in the fuel. Neutrons are released from the atoms at high speed which then set off the splitting of more atoms – the chain reaction. Then you get a massive explosion.

    • Photo: Sean Murphy

      Sean Murphy answered on 20 Mar 2012:

      An atom bomb works by initiating a nuclear chain reaction, which releases a huge amount of energy relative to conventional explosives. Nuclear reactions occur when neutrons are fired at closely packed atoms with heavy nuclei (uranium or plutonium isotopes). These heavy nuclei break apart into lighter nuclei when hit by a neutron, in turn generating more neutrons which bombard other nuclei, creating a chain reaction. This process is known as fission. (Another process known as fusion releases energy by fusing together nuclei rather than breaking them apart.) By breaking down the nuclei themselves rather than releasing energy through a conventional chemical reaction, atom bombs can release more than 80 terajoules of energy per kilogram (TJ/kg).

      Here is a good video explaining this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV6gBwuNNdI&feature=related

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