Question 3: As we discussed, each 235U atom that undergoes fission releases approximately 200 MeV of energy. The energy of a nuclear weapon is expressed in terms of an equivalent amount of TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene), for example a 20 mega-ton warhead. TNT contains 4.7 megajoules per kilogram and a ton of TNT is a unit of energy equal to 4.184 gigajoules. The Little Boy atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, exploded with an energy of about 15 kilotons of TNT. The W88 is a modern United States thermonuclear warhead, with an estimated yield of 475 kiloton, and is small enough that the Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missile can be armed with up to 8 W88 warheads. 1) What was the mass (in kg) of the 235U used in Little Boy? 2) How much would a Trident II missile weigh, if it also used 235U?
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is a type of nuclear reaction. In nuclear fusion, two or more than two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. During this process, an enormous amount of energy is released. This energy is called nuclear energy. Nuclear fusion is the energy source of the sun and stars.
Fusion Bomb
A fusion bomb is also known as a thermonuclear bomb or hydrogen bomb which releases a large amount of explosive energy during a nuclear chain reaction when the lighter nuclei in it, combine to form heavier nuclei, and a large amount of radiation is released. It is an uncontrolled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction where isotopes of hydrogen combine under very high temperature to form helium. They work on the principle of operation of atomic fusion. The isotopes of Hydrogen are deuterium and tritium, where they combine their masses and have greater mass than the product nuclei, get heated at high temperatures, and releases energy.
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