The atomic bomb is a powerful explosive nuclear weapon fueled by the splitting or fission of the nuclei of specific isotopes of uranium or plutonium in chain reaction. The strength of explosion created by an atom bomb is on the order of the strength of detonation that would be created by thousands of tons of TNT (Trinitrotoluene).
Nuclear Reaction in Atomic Bomb
An atom bomb must provide enough mass of plutonium to reach critical mass. The mass at which nuclear reactions going on inside the material can make up for neutrons leaving the material through its outside surface. Usually plutonium or uranium in a bomb is separated into parts so that critical mass is not reached until the bomb is set to explode.
At that point a set of chemical explosives or some other mechanism drives all different pieces of plutonium together to produce a critical mass. after this occur there are enough neutrons bouncing around in the material to create a chain reaction of fission. In fission reactions, collisions between neutron and uranium or plutonium atoms cause the atom to split into pairs of nuclear fragments, releasing energy and more neutrons.
Once reaction begin, the neutron released by each reaction hit other atoms and create more fission reactions until all fissile material is exhausted or scattered.
Fission
This process of fission release enormous energy in form of extreme heat and a massive shock wave., this is the intense explosion. In addition to its nearly unimaginable destructive force. consisting of pressure wave, flash burns and high winds. A nuclear detonation also produces deadly radiations in form of gamma rays and neutron. The radiation destroys living matter and contaminates water and soil.
First Atomic Bomb
Atom bomb was the first nuclear weapons to be developed, tested and used. In late 1930’s physicists in Europe and United States realized that the fission of uranium could be used to create an extremely powerful explosive weapon.
Fusion bombs also called hydrogen or thermonuclear were developed and tested in early 1950’s but there has never been used in warfare. A thermonuclear device depends on fission reaction to produce extreme heat that causes hydrogen isotope of deuterium and tritium to come together and fuse but main energy source thermonuclear devices comes from the fusion reaction, not the triggering fission reaction.