On August 6, 1945, 66,000 people died in Hiroshima, Japan.  Three days later, 74,000 people died in Nagasaki, Japan, totaling 140,000 people dead in Japan in the short time period of just four days.  These tragedies were caused by the use of nuclear bombs.  The ways nuclear weapons are constructed makes them too powerful and have so many effects that they should be controlled more or just not used at all.

            There are two types of nuclear weapons, fission weapons and thermonuclear weapons. Fission weapons were the bombs that were used in Hiroshima, Japan and Nagasaki, Japan.  Fission weapons generate their destructive power through the fission or splitting of atomic nuclei. There are two methods of fission weapons, the gun-type method and the implosion method.

            In the gun-type method, two subcritical pieces of material are placed in a device similar to the barrel of a gun.  “One piece rests at one end of the barrel and the other is some distance from the first piece, with a powerful conventional explosive behind it.” (Kuhn.) The conventional explosive propels the second subcritical mass at high speed into the first. When the two subcritical masses come into contact with each other, an explosion is created.  The United States used a gun-type fission weapon at Hiroshima, Japan.

            In the implosion method, a subcritical mass is made supercritical by compressing it into a smaller volume. The supercritical mass is in the center of the weapon, surrounded by conventional explosives. When the conventional explosives are triggered, they explode and thus encouraging the supercritical mass to also explode. The United States used an implosion fission weapon at Nagasaki, Japan.

Thermonuclear weapons get their power from the fusion or combining of atomic nuclei under intense heat. Thermonuclear weapons are made using hydrogen. These bombs can be made as big as the scientist would want to make it just by using more hydrogen. The biggest thermonuclear bomb made could give third degree burns to a person standing over 60 miles away from the explosion. Thermonuclear weapons have only been used in test and they have not yet been used in times of war.

            The use of nuclear weapons can have many effects. Effects come from the blast wave, Thermal radiation, initial nuclear radiation and residual nuclear radiation. If a nuclear war started between multiple countries, the ultimate effect would be nuclear winter.

            The explosion begins with the formation of a fire ball, a cloud of dust and extremely hot gases under high pressure. After the explosion, gases begin to expand and form a blast wave. The blast wave causes most of the explosion’s damage.

            Thermal radiation consists of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation given off by the fireball. Visible and infrared radiation can cause skin burns called flash burns. Flash burns caused from 20 to 30 percent of deaths at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.

            Initial nuclear radiation occurs within the first minute beginning at the instant of the explosion. It consists of neutrons and gamma rays. Gamma ray radiation is similar to X-ray radiation.

            Residual nuclear radiation is given off later than one minute after the explosion. Fallout is when radioactive particles fall down to Earth after the mushroom cloud. Early fallout reaches Earth within 24 hours of the explosion. Delayed fallout reaches ground from 24 hours to a number of years after the explosion.

The most serious long-term effect of nuclear weapons is nuclear winter. Nuclear winter is the deadly worldwide environmental effects that could result from a major nuclear war. Nuclear winter could begin to develop from city fires created by the extreme heat of nuclear explosions. Large amounts of smoke from these city fires could spread and cover at least half of Earth’s surface. The smoke could prevent most sunlight from reaching the ground. This would make temperatures drop drastically.

            There have been many attempts to control nuclear weapons. Areas where the attempts have been made include deterrence, limiting testing, limiting numbers, and limiting proliferation.

            Deterrence refers to preventing the countries that have nuclear weapons from using them. The offense- based deterrence theory say that the possession of a strong nuclear force by opposing nations best prevents nuclear war. Defense-based deterrence theory says that only an effective defense against a powerful first strike will reliably protect a defender’s ability to counter attack.

            Nations have tried to limit the testing of nuclear weapons to protect people and the environment from nuclear radiation and to slow the development of nuclear weapons. “In the Limited Test Ban Treaty, nations involved agreed not to test nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, in outer space, or underwater.” (Rivera.) The loophole in the treaty was that underground testing was not banned.

            Attempts to limit the number of United States and Soviet nuclear weapons began in 1970. “Russia has the most nuclear warheads with approximately 10,566.” (Nuclear Weapons: Who.)

Research shows that there are five nations known to have nuclear weapons and four nations are believed to have nuclear weapons.

            Limiting proliferation involves preventing the spread of nuclear weapons to nations that do not have them. Recently nations have been trying to prevent Iran from getting nuclear power. “Iran has signaled that it was unwilling to grant a request by international nuclear inspectors for unfettered access to a restricted military complex that they suspect may house a chamber designed to test explosives used in atomic weapons triggers.” (Gladstone.) Iran claims it just wants nuclear power to produce electricity so the nation would not have to use oil to produce electricity. Iran would like to sell the oil to other countries instead of using it to produce electricity.

            The ways nuclear weapons are constructed makes them too powerful and have so many effects that they should be controlled more or just not used at all. Older nuclear bombs have the explosive force of 20 megatons which is more than 1500 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Nuclear weapons are stronger today and could demolish entire countries.  “If we fight a war and win it with H-bombs, what history will remember are not the ideals we were fighting for but the methods we used to accomplish them.” (The Nuclear Weapon Archive.) The world cannot handle more disastrous tragedies like what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.

2.Oradour Sul Glane

Small village of Oradour Sul Glane in France showed a very terrible state conditions. During World War II, 642 residents were massacred by German soldiers as a form of retaliation for the French against the treatment time. Germany who was actually intended to attack the area near Sul Glane Oradour, but eventually they attacked the small settlement on June 10, 1944

3.Sebuah Pulau di Nagasaki

This island is one of the 505 uninhabited islands in Nagasaki Region of the administration of Japan, about 15 kilometers from Nagasaki. The island is also known as “Gunkan Jima” or the island of warships. In 1890 when a company (Mitsubishi) bought the island and began a project to retrieve coal from the seabed around the island. In 1916 they built the first large concrete on the island, an apartment block built for the workers and also serves to protect them from hurricanes.
In 1959, the island’s population swells, the population density reached 835 persons per hectare for the whole island (1,391 per acre for residential central area), the densest population ever in the whole world. When oil replaced coal in 1960, coal mines began to close, not least in Gunkan Jima, in 1974 Mitsubishi officially announced the closing of the mine, and finally emptied the island. In 2003 the island as a setting dimbil film “Battle Royal II” and inspired a popular game “Killer7″.

4. Kadykchan

Kadykchan is one of the small Russian town that was destroyed during the collapse of the Soviet Union. Residents forced to fight to get access to water, health services and schools. They have to get out of the city in a period of 2 weeks, to occupy other cities and occupy a new home. Cities with a population of about 12,000 people on average as a tin miner was emptied. They left their home and all its furnishings. So you can find toys, books, clothing and various items in the empty city.

5,Kota Agdam Kadykchan is one of the small Russian town that was destroyed during the collapse of the Soviet Union. Residents forced to fight to get access to water, health services and schools. They have to get out of the city in a period of 2 weeks, to occupy other cities and occupy a new home. Cities with a population of about 12,000 people on average as a tin miner was emptied. They left their home and all its furnishings. So you can find toys, books, clothing and various items in the empty city.

Man is making stride to make human life more comfy and simple by making serene exploits of atomic energy. He has seen the obliteration happened to Heroshima and Nagasaki by the exercises of atomic weapons in the Second World War.

Since the end of the Second World War, man is eagerly probing ways to set up nonviolent surroundings around him. He wishes to spread out his business and cultivation with most modern machines and techniques. This power is a never-ending resource of power and is bound to have an effect on our lives in more than one manner in the near future.

It can produce power, which can be used in farming, manufacturing and in electrifying the far-flung and distant areas. Atomic reactors are being mounted in all the progressive sophisticated countries and generating inexpensive and bigger supplies of energy. In France, for instance, 50 percent of its electrical energy requires is convene by nuclear energy.

I believe that the atomic energy is a benefit for humanity. With this expansion we can steer all our powers towards nonviolent activities. Very big ships can cruise on the oceans with atomic energy created by a cupful of water. The crisis of drinking water is being resolved by purifying the sea-water by atomic energy.

By means of atomic energy, we can perk up our manufacturing of merchandises in factories. A lot of new tasks can also be taken up. We can get better irrigation of our meadows and arable farm multiple times. So there are frequent means and technique for humanizing our present circumstances.

Widespread impels can also be taken up in metropolitan and pastoral regions for the endorsement and progress of the people. There can be fetched about a revolution in the world of farming, irrigation, transportation, communiqué, medical science and industry if we study to employ this marvel of science for nonviolent functions with acumen.

At the moment we are striding on the blade’s rim which is very jagged. Atomic energy should be utilized for constructive reasons. And if used destructively, then tranquility will elude us and our continued existence will be in hazard.

By Muhammad Irfan Zafar

Content Writer

The bombings actually had more meaning than simply ending the war. Each interpretation of the bombings has an obvious link to the interests of the United States. Because of these special interests, the morality and ethics of the bombing is questionable. It is obvious that the United States was the only country who stood to gain anything from the bombings.

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Some may say that we had to end the war so that we could put ourselves in a better position in the world; this position would later enable us to help other countries. Others argue that our actions were selfish, ruthless, and outright destructive. Although there are many opinions on the atomic bombing of Japan, we cannot change history; we can only reflect upon our past actions and strive to be better.

Military Reasons for Bombing

One of the most popular explanations for the bombing was for military reasons, to end the war immediately. Ending the war promptly prevented the need for future invasions, which saved more lives in the long run. Based on previous battles with Japan, the United States knew that more battles would result in a great deal of bloodshed. (Oh, n.d.) The Japanese army was determined to fight us with everything they had, which meant there were a lot of casualties.

End the War Quickly by Forcing Surrender

Shortly before the atomic bombs were dropped, it was obvious that Japan was near defeat but they were not necessarily ready to surrender. There was no question that we would defeat Japan, but the United States wanted to do so more quickly than it was happening. The atomic bomb was more about ending the war as immediately than it was about defeating Japan. (Cooper, 2000)

Keep Russia Out of the War

Russia was eager to join the war in order to help us defeat Japan, but we did not want their help. The United States feared Russian involvement because we did not want Russia to feel entitled to gaining anything, such as territory in Asia, from the imminent defeat. To allow such a territorial gain would surely mean the spread of Communism, which the United States did not want because we considered Russia one of our greatest enemies at the time. One of the main motivations for dropping the bombs was to force Japan to surrender; we knew that this tool was key in getting the Emperor to end the fighting. (Cooper, 2000)

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Political Reasons for Bombing

In addition to military reasons, there were also many political reasons behind the bombing of Japan. The creation and testing of the atomic bomb was a very expensive project, so many government officials felt that the value of the bomb must be demonstrated by using it in the war. (Oh, n.d.) If it was not used, then it would seem like a waste of government funding because its true potential would not be seen. The United States felt that the physical and psychological power of the bomb needed to be demonstrated to the world.

Intimidation Tool 

Not only did we want other countries to know we had a powerful weapon, we wanted them to fear it. Many people suggest that one of the reasons we used the bomb was to intimidate the Russians, which has some truth to it. Soviet Russia was considered an enemy of the United States; the bomb showed them and the rest of the world what we had in our arsenal. One of our greatest fears was that Russia would attempt to expand into Asia. The bomb obviously had political implications on the rest of the world, especially Russia. The United States showed the world that we did not need Russia’s help to defeat Japan and gave us a strong hand for future negotiations. (Oh, n.d.)

Social Reasons for Bombing

There are also social reasons behind the bombings of Japan. At that point in history, the average American disliked Japan and the Japanese people a great deal. These tensions had been building ever since the 19th century and eventually peaked when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. (Oh, n.d.) The bombing of Japan can be viewed as retaliation; the United States bombed them because of Pearl Harbor and their terrible treatment of American prisoners of war.

POW’s were tortured and killed during this time in history and the American people were outraged. Despite the obvious dislike between the United States and Japan, this social reason alone is not why we bombed Japan. The government insists that the bomb was originally intended for Nazi Germany, but the bomb was not ready prior to their surrender on May 7th. (Oh, n.d.)

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Was it Justified?

Every attempt to justify the bombing of Japan is met with resistance. We can see that the decision to bomb Japan was not based on one reason, but rather a culmination of reasons from different points of view in the United States government. The military, politicians, and the American people each had their own reasons for supporting the bombing at the time. Although each of these reasons together are historically why Japan was bombed, it does not mean that all of them were fair and justified. This piece of our history illustrates America as arrogant and powerful. Although we may not consider arrogance a good trait, at that time it was necessary. The bombing of Japan played a key role in the end of WWII and subsequent history, despite seemingly compromised morals and ethics.

References

Cooper, J. (2000) Truman’s Motivations: Using the Atomic Bomb in the Second World War. Retrieved on August 9, 2011 from http://www.johnwcooper.com/papers/atomicbombtruman.htm

Oh, J. (n.d.) Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Decision to Drop the Bomb. Retrieved on August 9, 2011 from http://www.umich.edu/~historyj/pages_folder/articles/Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki/pdf

The Manhattan Project was the US Government’s secret military project established in 1942 which aimed to produce the US’ first nuclear weapon. Fears of Nazi Germany creating a nuclear weapon during the Second World War sparked the establishment of the Manhattan Project. The US physicists J. Robert Oppenheimer and Leslie R. Groves headed a team of the finest US scientists, engineers, mathematicians in conjunction with the European scientists Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi and Leo Sizlard to participate in the Manhatten Project. The Project was divided into three main research and production facilities at Oak Ridge, Hanford and Los Alamos. By the end of the project, the Project conjured a substantial amount of Uranium -235 (a rare isotope of Uranium) to produce the Little Boy and Big Boy atomic weapons.

1. Describe the dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Why were these chosen? Give details of the bombs and the physical destruction they caused. (At least a page).

On May 10th 1915, the Target committee at Los Amos led by Robert Oppenheimer decided on which targets that would be suitable to ‘bomb’. They recommended the cities Kyoto, Hiroshima, Yokohama and Kokura. The committee managed to agree that the atomic weapons should not be used on a military target due to the chance of missing them and instead, they decided on a more ‘civilian’ based target.

Hiroshima was eventually chosen due to its large size, civilian population of 225,000 people, military significance and vast hills that surrounded the city that would create a ‘focusing effect’ and thereby, intensify the destructive capacity of the bomb. During the time of the bombing of the city, it was home to the headquarters of the 5th division, housing Field Marhsal Shunkoro Hata’s 2nd General Headquarters. Furthermore, it served as a minor supple and logistics base with could act as a storage area for the assembly of troops, whilst acting as a communication hub. Its ability to produce toxins and chemicals that were used against the Chinese also enticed the committee to choose the city.

The bombing of Hiroshima took place on August 6th, 1945. The Enola Gay, a B-29 Superfortress of the 393d Bombardment Squadron was accompanied accompanied by two other B-29 Superfortresses, one containing instrumentation and the other a photography equipment. The bomb ‘Little Boy’ was released uneventfully at 8:15 (Hiroshima Time). The gun-type fission bomb with 60Kg of uranium-235 took 57 seconds to fall from the aircraft and detonate 600m on top of the city. A blast equivalent to 13 kilotons of TNT ripped the heart out of Hiroshima. The nuclear explosion consisted of five interlinked effects: heat, light, blast, fallout and electromagnetic pulse (EMP)

The immediate aftermath of the bombing would produce a death toll of 70,000 people. By 1950, the figure would climb up to 200,000 people due to the long-term illnesses experienced by victims who were within the vicinity of the bomb blast.

Similarly, the atomic bombing of Nagasaki was chosen due to its military significance. During the war, it was the largest sea port in Southern Japan that bustled with industrial activity, producing ordnance, ships and military equipment. On the morning og August 9, 1945, a US B-29 Superfortress by the name of Bockscar flew out to engage the city of Kokura (Nagasaki at this stage was a secondary target). When a 70% cloud cover was reported over Kokura, the bomber changed course to Nagasaki and at 11:01, dropped the atomic weapon ‘Fat Man’. The 6.4kg plutonium-239 cor was dropped over the city’s industrial valley  and caused a casualty rate of 40,000 – 75,000 people. By the end of 1945, it would increase to 80,000.

“The atomic bomb was more than a weapon of terrible destruction; it was a psychological weapon” US Secretary of War Henry L. Stinson, 1947.

1. What was the immediate reaction of Western media to the dropping of the bombs?

This reaction is based off a BBC news article written a few days after the bombing of Hiroshima.

The Western media seemed to take positive militaristic view on the bombing of Hiroshima. A major component of the sense of ‘accomplishent’ on the droppings of the atomic weapon seemed to be based on America’s achievements on of “harnessing the basic power of the Universe” (Harry S. Trumann) by embracing science as “British and American science has outpaced all German efforts” (Winston Churchill). The Western Media appear to have praised the destruction of Japan that had effectively ended the Second World War and neglected the drastically large loss of life necessary to achieve so, particularly on the civilian population.

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Details of the atomic bomb: the creation 

• The atomic bomb was made possible by new discoveries in nuclear physics, which revealed the immense power encased in radioactive atoms. Here are the facts atomic bomb on the creation of the first atomic bomb and the advances in science and technology made it possible. 
• The atomic bomb is based on artificially induced phenomenon of nuclear fission. The atoms of radioactive elements like uranium or plutonium are bombarded with slow neutrons, which makes them unstable and split into lighter elements, releasing large amounts of energy in the process. Along with the release of energy, more neutrons are released in the process, which then cause fission of atoms, causing a chain reaction. The explosion of the atomic bomb is the activation of this type of reaction uncontrolled fission chain. 
• Nuclear power plants or nuclear reactors are based on the same principle as the atomic bomb. The only difference is that it uses a fission chain reaction controlled for peaceful purposes. 
• The process of nuclear fission was discovered by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann in 1938. The first atomic bomb was created by the United States on a military project, dubbed “Manhattan Project” which involved thousands of scientists, engineers and technicians, working under the direction of Robert Oppenheimer at Los Alamos. 
• Allied forces, led by the U.S., initiated the project to develop the bomb, partly for fear that the Nazi government of Germany was developing one too. On July 16, 1945, the first successful test of an atomic bomb took place in the desert north of Alamogordo, New Mexico. The test was code named ‘Trinity’ and the bomb was a plutonium implosion device, releasing heat and energy equivalent to about 19 kilotons of TNT (trinitrotoluene) explosions! 
• The total estimated cost of the Manhattan Project was $ 20 million. 

Details of the atomic bomb of World War II 

• Neither those who used the atomic bomb for the first time or those in which it has been used, you can never forget that moment in human history. He left a deep scar on the psyche of humanity. Here are the facts atomic bomb, which speak of its use in World War II, leading to it and what were the consequences. 
• In part, stung by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb, codenamed “Little Boy” on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. After that, another atomic bomb, codenamed “Fat Man” was dropped on another Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. In the first four months after the two attacks, about 90,000 to 166,000 people died in Hiroshima, while about 60,000 to 80,000 people died in Nagasaki. Half of deaths in both cities came the same day, a few hours after the attacks. Needless to say, Japan surrendered unconditionally after a few days and the second world war came to an end. 
• What makes an attack with atomic bombs, although it is more deadly than leaves behind radioactive waste, which causes genetic mutations and cancer. Hundreds of people died in the coming years due to cancer and other diseases caused by exposure to radioactive waste in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

Details of the atomic bomb: Current status of nuclear weapons 
Since World War II, countries that possess nuclear weapons have increased in number. World is an even more dangerous now than it was in the war years. Within minutes, more than half the world’s population could disappear if a nuclear war is triggered! These facts atomic bomb are a status update of nuclear proliferation in the world. 

• Today eight nations recognize the possession of nuclear weapons. The nuclear club includes U.S., UK, Russia, France, People’s Republic of China, India, Pakistan and North Korea. 
• Today, a nuclear weapon even more lethal form of the hydrogen bomb was developed, which is thousands of times more deadly than an atomic bomb. Classified as a thermonuclear device, a hydrogen bomb uses both the reactions of fission and fusion to unleash hell when detonated. These thermonuclear weapons can cause damage equal to or greater than 50 million tons of TNT explosives! 
• With the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, delivering the atomic bomb has become easier and more deadly! Many countries have the capability to launch nuclear warheads aimed at places thousands of miles away. 
• In 1966, during the Cold War, to 32,193 nuclear warheads and bombs were built and ready for deployment! 
• Since 1951, the total number of nuclear missiles developed by the U.S. is 67,500. In 1990, the U.S. had a stock pile of 70,000 nuclear warheads and bombs! 
• Today’s News of nuclear weapons shows that many more developing countries are in the process of acquiring the technology to build nuclear weapons. The ongoing international efforts to carry out large-scale voluntary disarmament.

Little boy atomic bomb in question is “The Little Boy” which was launched by the United States Military (U.S.). Little Boy was already prepared on July 31, 1945.

On August 2, Hiroshima is determined as the main target of U.S. military in Japan. The attack it self eventually performed on August 6, 1945, while Japan remains adamant never to surrender to allied forces in World War II.

This atomic bomb dropped from a Boeing B-29 Superfortress named Enola Gay. U.S. bomber piloted by Lt. Col. Paul W. Tibbets.

Dropped from a height of approximately 31,000 feet, the atomic bomb was exploded at 8:15 am Japan time on August 6, 1945. The bomb exploded when it reached an altitude of 550 meters.

Little Boy has a length of three meters wide and 71 centi-meter and weighs approximately 4000 pounds. The explosion of the bomb was equivalent to 15,000 tons of TNT-type explosives.

Bomb in reference to former U.S. President Frank D Roosevelt, being able to make the damage as far as distance of 13 kilometers per side.

Nearly 60 percent of the buildings in Hiroshima reportedly destroyed in the blast. Casualties caused by the bomb blast was originally known to reach 118,661 civilians, but the number is rectified to about 140,000 of the population of Hiroshima which reached 350,000 inhabitants.

Three days later, ie on August 9, 1945, the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb re-named “Fat Man”. This bomb is much larger than the size of Little Boy. Fat Man himself referred to as the former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Fat Man weighs 4050 kilograms and dropped into the city of Nagasaki. The level of devastation caused by this very large bomb.

Area approximately 6.7 kilometers of hilly area of ​​ Nagasaki, reportedly destroyed luluhlantak. 74,000 citizens of Nagasaki was reportedly killed by a bomb.

While the survivors have to finish their lifetime because of suffering from deadly diseases because of the radiation caused

Akiko still 20 years old that time. At the events, around 9 AM local time, he was at Bank Hiroshima. Akiko stood 300 metres from the center of the explosion. Akiko was one of the victims that survive miraculously, even though there were more than a hundred of scars that left on his back.

He tells that a lot of people died immediately that time. Their corpses were anywhere on the street. As we can saw that time, all we saw was burnt corpses, and lots of people were bleeding everywhere. It is so creepy.

Fire was slowly spreading to their whole body, from their finger to their whole body. There was a liquid, a light grey liquid, that drips to their hand.

Akiko was shocked to know that fingers and body can burnt and become defect like that. He doesn’t believe that. He really shocked and it is horrible. Akiko was seeing all of that tragedy. It is more terrifying to think how their fingers burnt, hand and fingers were melting. And among them, there were some people that holding their babies.

“They just, they just,.. burn until all out,” he says that with a stammer voice.

Akiko tells, the morning of the tragedy is very hot. Flame heating were everywhere. All the people had a problem when breathing, include Akiko himself. All the air that their breath was hot air.

“Maybe the fire was burning the oxygen, I don’t know. I can’t open my eyes because there are a lot of fog. Not only me, but everybody also feel the same,” says Akiko.

For a couple of years after that incident, Akiko has become traumatic and phobia of fire. “Because all my senses remind me how scary and horrible that fire was,”.

A critical mass requires that a certain weight of fissionable material must be assembled to sustain a chain reaction. When the critical mass is attained, the nucleus of the uranium or plutonium atom is bombarded with tremendous amounts of slow-moving neutrons. Some neutrons are successfully absorbed and split the nucleus. The result is the formation of lighter elements, the emission of more neutrons, and a violent release of energy. As more neutrons are multiplied, more nuclei are split—thus accounting for the term “chain reaction.” This entire reaction takes place in a fraction of a second. The size of the explosion depends upon the efficiency of the chain reaction.

The first atomic bomb explosion was performed near Alamogordo, New Mexico, on July16, 1945, atop a steel tower. The blast was so powerful that the tower disintegrated as a result of vaporization and the sand in an 800-yard radius fused to glass.

Explosions of this type are characterized by a blinding flash of light, a heat wave, a tremendous shock wave, and a huge ball of fire rising rapidly in a mushroom-shaped cloud. The destructive force of this device is caused by three distinct actions:

v     Blast effect – a violent wind first blowing out from the point of explosion and then reversing its direction, creating a vacuum. Most damage is caused by the side effects, such as flying glass and falling walls.

v     Thermal radiation – the “flash” heat caused by absorption of heat energy for a very brief instant. In Japan, persons one and one-half miles from the blast were burned on surfaces facing the blast. Burning is caused by ignition of combustible materials.

v     Ionizing radiation – called radioactivity, and causing the least amount of damage. A transfer of energy is affected whereby the human tissues undergo a biophysical and biochemical change.

Because of their vast power, atomic bombs are graded by the equivalent weight of TNT required to release the same amount of energy. The bomb’s power is expressed in kilotons (thousands of tons).

The fusion, or thermonuclear, bomb was first tested in November, 1952. Because the explosion is created by the fusion reaction of hydrogen isotopes, deuterium and tritium, the weapon is called hydrogen bomb.

A fusion bomb of about 100 kilotons provides the great heat needed to sustain a thermonuclear reaction. The intense heat transforms the deuterium and tritium atoms into atoms of helium—a heavier element than hydrogen. The weight of helium atoms formed is less than the total weight of hydrogen atoms consumed in the fusion reaction. The difference in weight is the mass given off in the form of a violent release of energy. The fusion reaction is not limited like ordinary explosives since heat, not mass, initiates the release of nuclear energy.

Hydrogen and cobalt bombs are many more times as powerful as atomic bombs. Bombs as great as 50 megatons (millions of tons) already have been exploded.

A recent idea is the neutron bomb. It has probably not yet been made. In theory, the N-Bomb will be a fusion explosion like the hydrogen bomb. Unlike the H-bomb, however, the blast will develop into a burst of neutrons instead of a great ball of fire resulting in a radioactive cloud. The neutrons can penetrate solid materials, destroying life but not damaging the buildings.

United States tested the atom bomb at Trinity Site (New Mexico) on July 16, 1945. and after the testing united states finally decided to drop the uranium atom bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. not only that of Nagasaki was destroyed after an atomic bomb plutonium sentenced on 9 August 1945.

The two bombs killed over 120,000 people in an instant. circumstances which looks like a helter skelter and uninhabited terrain created thereafter.

after years of the 1950s, nuclear energy is used for civilian purposes as generating electricity. Various countries that control the technology began to make use of nuclear energy on a large scale. This is because the efficiency of nuclear power plants (NPP) is quite high, especially with small mass (’fuel’) to generate big energy. And until recently, nuclear energy accounted for 16% of the total electric energy needs of the world which only spread across 30 countries.

if 30 countries are reducing their nuclear experts to help Japan, the nuclear crisis could soon be finished. no more fear of radiation effects. and Japan and around the country was again safe. let’s work together to help Japan. forget the political conflict and other conflicts as this. so that the incident in Nagasaki and Hiroshima not happen again.