How is a plutonium bomb different from an atomic bomb?

An atomic bomb uses either uranium or plutonium and relies on fission, a nuclear reaction in which a nucleus or an atom breaks apart into two pieces. The hydrogen bomb relies on fusion, the process of taking two separate atoms and putting them together to form a third atom.

What is the difference between uranium and plutonium bombs?

The destructive power of the Plutonium bomb in war was first demonstrated on Nagasaki. The bomb consisted of 10 kg of Pu-239 at its core. Unlike Uranium, virtually any combination of Plutonium isotopes can be used to make a new clear weapon. Weapons Grade Plutonium is said to contain greater than 93\% Pu-239.

Which gas is used in atomic bomb?

Two atomic bombs made by the allied powers (USA and UK) from uranium-235 and plutonium-239 were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively early in August 1945.

What nuclear material was used in the construction of the Hiroshima bomb?

uranium core
The U.S. developed two types of atomic bombs during the Second World War. The first, Little Boy, was a gun-type weapon with a uranium core. Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima. The second weapon, dropped on Nagasaki, was called Fat Man and was an implosion-type device with a plutonium core.

Why is the hydrogen bomb more powerful than the atomic bomb?

Hydrogen bombs cause a bigger explosion, which means the shock waves, blast, heat and radiation all have larger reach than an atomic bomb, according to Page 3 Edward Morse, a professor of nuclear engineering at University of California, Berkeley.

Why are atomic bombs detonated above ground?

Nuclear weapons For the Hiroshima bomb, an air burst 550 to 610 m (1,800 to 2,000 ft) above the ground was chosen “to achieve maximum blast effects, and to minimize residual radiation on the ground as it was hoped U.S. troops would soon occupy the city”.

What is a thermonuclear bomb?

In contrast, the first test of a thermonuclear weapon, or hydrogen bomb, in the United States in November 1952 yielded an explosion on the order of 10,000 kilotons of TNT. Thermonuclear bombs start with the same fission reaction that powers atomic bombs — but the majority of the uranium or plutonium in atomic bombs actually goes unused.

How does plutonium 239 fission work?

Inside this pit of plutonium-239 is a chamber of hydrogen gas. The high temperatures and pressures created by the plutonium-239 fission cause the hydrogen atoms to fuse. This fusion process releases neutrons, which feed back into the plutonium-239, splitting more atoms and boosting the fission chain reaction.

How many kilotons of TNT does a nuclear bomb explode?

The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki exploded with the yield of 15 kilotons and 20 kilotons of TNT, respectively, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists . In contrast, the first test of a thermonuclear weapon, or hydrogen bomb, in the United States in November 1952 yielded an explosion on the order of 10,000 kilotons of TNT.