Atomic — Explosion

The following overview summarizes the scientific principles, historical context, and immediate physical effects of an atomic explosion.

: Shooting one piece of uranium into another to create a supercritical mass (used in the "Little Boy" bomb). atomic explosion

An atomic (fission) explosion occurs when the nuclei of heavy, unstable atoms—typically or Plutonium-239 —are split into smaller parts. This process, known as nuclear fission , releases a massive amount of energy due to the "nuclear difference," where nuclear reactions release roughly a million times more energy than chemical reactions. This process, known as nuclear fission , releases

To trigger this explosion, the fissile material must reach a , where a self-sustaining chain reaction occurs. In modern designs, this is often achieved through: known as nuclear fission

When a nuclear weapon detonates, its energy is released in several distinct forms: