The atom bomb is one of the most important discoveries in modern day science. Countless scientists worked relentlessly on the project and their efforts opened the door for present and future exploration of the atom.
Just before the beginning of World War II, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Urged by Hungarian-born physicists Leo Szilard, Eugene Wingner, and Edward Teller, Einstein told Roosevelt about Nazi German efforts to purify Uranium-235 which might be used to build an atomic bomb. Shortly after that the United States Government began work on the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project was the code name for the United States effort to develop the atomic bomb before the Germans did. "The first successful experiments in splitting a uranium atom had been carried out in the autumn of 1938 at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin" Just after Einstein wrote his letter. So the race was on. Major General Wilhelm D. Styer called the Manhattan Project "the most important job in the war . . . an all-out effort to build an atomic bomb." It turned out to be the biggest development in warfare and science's biggest development this century.
The most complicated issue to be addressed by the scientists working on the Manhattan Project was the production of ample amounts of enriched uranium to sustain a chain reaction. At the time, Uranium-235 was hard to extract. Of the Uranium ore mined, only about 1/500th of it ended up as Uranium metal. The Uranium metal is relatively rare, occurring in Uranium at a ratio of 1 to 139.
Separating the one part Uranium-235 proved to be a challenge. No ordinary chemical extraction could separate the two isotopes. Only mechanical methods could effectively separate U-235 from U-238. Scientists at Columbia University solved this difficult problem.
A massive enrichment plant was built at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. H. C. Urey and his associates and colleagues at Columbia University designed a system that worked on the principle of gaseous diffusion.
Nuclear bombs are similar to conventional bombs. ... These atoms are either split or fused to create new atoms. ... There are two main types of nuclear weapons, Atom bombs and hydrogen bombs. Atom bombs use fission as the main reaction. ... Hydrogen bombs use fusion as the main reaction meaning that the atoms are fused together. ...
The atomic bomb is a powerful, explosive nuclear weapon. ... These materials are usually separated within the bomb so that critical mass cannot be reached until the bomb is ready to explode. Once the chemical reactions within the bomb begin, the neutrons released by each reaction hit other atoms and create more fission reactions until all the material is scattered, or completely exhausted. ... The atomic bomb was first created in the early twentieth century. ... Groves designed and built the first atomic bombs, directed by J. ...
The history of the atomic bomb dates back to the early 1900's when Einstein's theory of relativity proved a basis for understanding nuclear energy and showed that the atom contained vast energy. ... They found that the split atoms released neutrons and energy. ... The hydrogen bomb uses the fusion of atoms and hydrogen to produce great heat and activity. ... First an atomic bomb explodes triggering the hydrogen and atoms. ... Then, deuterium and tritium atoms fuse. ...
By definition, a nuclear fission "is when a heavy atom is split into two atoms by a neutron hitting it." However, in nuclear technology, it is not sufficient to have a split of an atom, but rather, it is also necessary to have a continuous chain reaction that results as other neutrons are emitted by the atom. ... In addition to this, the nuclear fission of these atoms releases much more energy than that of other atoms or isotopes. ... Because there is no place for chance in exploding an atomic bomb, scientists will often increase the number of neutrons that are available to bombard the nucl...
The dropping of the atom bomb is one of the most controversial and unique events that has ever occurred in US history, and world history for that matter. ... Although the dropping of the bomb can be justified or refuted, depending in what one believes, there were indeed major political and military reasons as to why the bomb was ultimately dropped. ... Therefore, the atomic bomb would be saving numerous American lives from a rather tough invasion. ... Another political reason back in the US was that Truman was convinced that using the bomb would be a good idea. ... The dropping of the atom...
Fission is when a neutron can cause the nucleus of a uranium atom to break into two(Documentation 7). ... Uranium atoms are unusually large, so it is hard for them to hold together firmly. ... A U - 235 atom is so unstable that a blow from a single neutron is enough to split it and bring on a chain reaction. When a U - 235 atom splits, it gives off energy in the form of heat and Gamma radiation, the most powerful form of radioactivity and the most lethal. When a reaction occurs, the split atom will give off spare neutrons, causing other atoms to split, so actually, it is only necessary to ...
Three days later, the United States dropped a second atom bomb on the city of Nagasaki bringing World War II to an end. ... The discovery of the nuclear atom dates back to 1911, but its potential power was not realized until the late 1930s. The study of atoms as a weapon originated in Germany. ... Two years later, the United States replied by developing the Hydrogen Bomb, the predecessor to the atom bomb, which was 1,000 times more powerful. ... The atom bomb has left a permanent mark on the world, but it's not all bad. ...
The decision to drop the Atom Bomb created a huge impact on Americans and forever changed the way that other nations view the United States. ... Some of the main arguments in Alperovitz's book about the decision to drop the Atomic Bomb include whether or not it was really necessary, why an attack on civilians, and how does the United States justify using the Atom Bomb if they are against the notion of using chemical weapons. ... King, Commander in Chief of Naval Operations said. " I didn't like the atom bomb or any part of it." ... Atomic Bomb, or no Atomic Bomb, Japan would soon b...
The decision to drop the Atom Bomb created a huge impact on Americans and forever changed the way that other nations view the United States. ... Some of the main arguments in Alperovitz's book about the decision to drop the Atomic Bomb include whether or not it was really necessary, why an attack on civilians, and how does the United States justify using the Atom Bomb if they are against the notion of using chemical weapons. ... King, Commander in Chief of Naval Operations said. " I didn"t like the atom bomb or any part of it." ... Atomic Bomb, or no Atomic Bomb, Japan would soon be def...
