Similarities and differences between nuclear bombs and atomic bombs. Hydrogen bomb and nuclear bomb differences

In December 2017, everyone had time to discuss one of the most unpleasant news - the successful testing of a hydrogen bomb by North Korea. Kim Jong-un did not fail to hint (bluntly declare) that he was ready at any moment to turn weapons from defensive to offensive, which caused unprecedented excitement in the press around the world.

However, there were also optimists who declared that the tests were falsified: they say that the shadow of Juche falls in the wrong direction, and radioactive fallout something is not visible. But why is the presence of a hydrogen bomb in the aggressor country such a significant factor for free countries, after all, even the nuclear warheads that North Korea has in abundance have never scared anyone so much?

What is it

H-bomb, also known as the Hydrogen Bomb or HB, is a weapon of incredible destructive power, whose power is calculated in megatons of TNT. The principle of operation of HB is based on the energy that is produced during the thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen nuclei - exactly the same process occurs on the Sun.

How is a hydrogen bomb different from an atomic bomb?

Thermonuclear fusion - the process that occurs during the detonation of a hydrogen bomb - is the most powerful type of energy available to mankind. AT peaceful purposes we have not yet learned how to use it, but we have adapted it to the military. This thermonuclear reaction, similar to what can be observed in stars, releases an incredible flow of energy. In atomic energy, energy is obtained from the fission of the atomic nucleus, so the explosion of an atomic bomb is much weaker.

First test

And Soviet Union again outstripped many participants of the race cold war. The first hydrogen bomb, made under the guidance of the brilliant Sakharov, was tested at the secret test site of Semipalatinsk - and, to put it mildly, they impressed not only scientists, but also Western spies.

shock wave

The direct destructive effect of a hydrogen bomb is the strongest, high-intensity shock wave. Its power depends on the size of the bomb itself and the height at which the charge detonated.

thermal effect

A hydrogen bomb of only 20 megatons (the size of the largest one tested on this moment bombs - 58 megatons) creates great amount thermal energy: concrete melted within a radius of five kilometers from the test site of the projectile. Within a nine-kilometer radius, all living things will be destroyed, neither equipment nor buildings will stand. The diameter of the funnel formed by the explosion will exceed two kilometers, and its depth will fluctuate about fifty meters.

Fire ball

The most spectacular after the explosion will seem to observers a huge fire ball: flaming storms initiated by the detonation of the hydrogen bomb will support themselves, drawing more and more combustible material into the funnel.

radiation contamination

But most dangerous consequence explosion will, of course, be radiation contamination. The decay of heavy elements in a raging fiery whirlwind will fill the atmosphere tiny particles radioactive dust - it is so light that when it enters the atmosphere, it can go around Earth two or three times and only then it will fall out in the form of precipitation. Thus, one 100 megaton bomb explosion could have consequences for the entire planet.

Tsar bomb

58 megatons - this is the power of the largest hydrogen bomb detonated at the archipelago test site New Earth. The shock wave circled the globe three times, forcing the opponents of the USSR to once again be convinced of the enormous destructive power of these weapons. Veselchak Khrushchev joked at the plenum that the bomb was no longer made just for fear of breaking the windows in the Kremlin.

What is the difference between nuclear weapons and atomic weapons?

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      1 0

    7 (63206) 6 36 138 8 years

    In theory, this is the same thing, but if you need a difference, then:

    atomic weapon:

    * Ammunition, often called atomic, in the explosion of which only one type of nuclear reaction occurs - the fission of heavy elements (uranium or plutonium) with the formation of lighter ones. It is not uncommon for ammunition of this type to be referred to as single-phase or single-stage.

    nuclear weapon:
    * Thermonuclear weapons (colloquially often - hydrogen weapons), the main energy release of which occurs during a thermonuclear reaction - the synthesis of heavy elements from lighter ones. A nuclear charge of a single-phase type is used as a fuse for a thermonuclear reaction - its explosion creates a temperature of several million degrees, at which the fusion reaction begins. A mixture of two hydrogen isotopes, deuterium and tritium, is usually used as a starting material for synthesis (a compound of deuterium and lithium was also used in the first samples of thermonuclear explosive devices). This is the so-called two-phase, or two-stage type. The fusion reaction is characterized by a colossal energy release, so hydrogen weapons are more powerful than nuclear weapons by about an order of magnitude.

      0 0

    6 (11330) 6 40 98 8 years

    Nuclear and atomic are two different things ... I will not talk about differences, because. I'm afraid to make a mistake and not tell the truth

    Atomic bomb:
    It is based on a chain reaction of nuclear fission of heavy isotopes, mainly plutonium and uranium. In thermonuclear weapons, the stages of fission and fusion alternate. The number of stages (stages) determines the final power of the bomb. In this case, a tremendous amount of energy is released, and a whole set of damaging factors is formed. Horror story of the early 20th century - chemical weapon- it remains to be sad undeservedly forgotten on the sidelines, it was replaced by a new scarecrow for the masses.

    Nuclear bomb:
    an explosive weapon based on the use of nuclear energy released during a chain nuclear fission reaction of heavy nuclei or a thermonuclear fusion reaction of light nuclei. Related to weapons mass destruction(WMD) along with biological and chemical.

      0 0

    6 (10596) 3 21 62 8 years

    nuclear weapon:
    * Thermonuclear weapons (colloquially often - hydrogen weapons)

    Here I will add that there are differences between nuclear and thermonuclear. thermonuclear is several times more powerful.

    and the difference between nuclear and atomic lies in the chain reaction. like so:
    atomic:

    fission of heavy elements (uranium or plutonium) with the formation of lighter ones


    nuclear:

    synthesis of heavy elements from lighter ones

    ps I can be wrong about something. but it was the last topic in physics. and it seems like I still remember something)

      0 0

    7 (25794) 3 9 38 8 years

    "Ammunition, often called atomic, in the explosion of which only one type of nuclear reaction occurs - the fission of heavy elements (uranium or plutonium) with the formation of lighter ones." (c) wiki

    Those. nuclear weapons it can be uranium-plutonium, and thermonuclear together with deuterium-tritium.
    And atomic only fission of uranium / plutonium.
    Although if someone is located near the explosion site, it will not make much difference to him.

    principle of linguistics
    they are synonyms
    Nuclear weapons are based on an uncontrolled nuclear fission chain reaction. There are two main schemes: "cannon" and explosive implosion. The "cannon" scheme is typical for the most primitive models of the first generation of nuclear weapons, as well as artillery and small arms nuclear munitions, which have restrictions on the caliber of weapons. Its essence lies in the "shooting" towards each other of two blocks of fissile material of subcritical mass. This method detonation is possible only in uranium ammunition, since plutonium has more high speed detonation. The second scheme involves undermining the bomb's warhead in such a way that the compression is directed to the focal point (it can be one, or there can be several). This is achieved by wrapping the combat core with explosive charges and the presence of a precision detonation control circuit.

    The power of a nuclear charge, operating solely on the principles of fission of heavy elements, is limited to hundreds of kilotons. It is extremely difficult to create a more powerful charge based only on nuclear fission, if possible: an increase in the mass of fissile material does not solve the problem, since the explosion that has begun sprays part of the fuel, it does not have time to react completely and, thus, turns out to be useless, only increasing mass of ammunition and radioactive damage to the area. The most powerful munition in the world, based only on nuclear fission, was tested in the USA on November 15, 1952, the explosion power was 500 kt.

    Wad not really. the atomic bomb is common name. Nuclear weapons are divided into nuclear and thermonuclear. Nuclear weapons use the principle of fission of heavy nuclei (isotopes of uranium and plutonium), and thermonuclear weapons use the synthesis of light atoms into heavy ones (hydrogen isotopes -> helium) neutron bomb- a type of nuclear weapon, in which the main part of the energy of the explosion is emitted in the form of a stream of fast neutrons.

    how is love peace and no war?)

    No sense. Fight for Territories on earth. Why nuclear contaminated earth?
    Nuclear weapons are for fear and no one will use them.
    Now the war is political.

    I disagree, people bring death, not weapons)

  • If Hitler had atomic weapons, the USSR would have had atomic weapons.
    Russians always have the last laugh.

    because communism did not take off in our country.

    Yes, there is also a metro in Riga, a bunch of academic campuses, oil, gas, a huge army, a rich and vibrant culture, there is work, everything is in Latvia

    It will not wake up soon, just when nuclear weapons will be ancient and ineffective, like gunpowder now

What is the difference between a hydrogen bomb and a nuclear bomb?

  1. There are nuclear weapons. These are weapons based on nuclear reactions. Nuclear bombs are divided into:
    - atomic (they are sometimes called simply "nuclear");
    - hydrogen (they are also called "thermonuclear");
    - neutron.
    An atomic bomb is a bomb in which a nuclear fission reaction takes place. An atom of a heavy isotope, for example, plutonium-239, is divided into lighter chemical elements with the release of colossal energy. There is a critical mass of plutonium-239. Roughly speaking, a piece of plutonium with a mass greater than this value cannot exist - it immediately gives chain reaction, that is, an explosion. An atomic bomb contains several pieces of plutonium, each of which has a slightly less than critical mass. These pieces are shaped in such a way that if you put them together, you get a single whole. They shoot at each other and form a large piece with a mass much greater than the critical one.
    A hydrogen bomb is a bomb in which a nuclear fusion reaction takes place. That is, on the contrary, one heavy atom is obtained from two light atoms. Hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium) yield helium and an even more colossal amount of energy. The power of a hydrogen bomb is usually about a thousand times greater than that of an atomic bomb. By the way, inside the hydrogen bomb is atomic bomb. She serves as a fuse for her. Here is such a horror.
    A neutron bomb is a bomb that I don’t remember how it works, but it’s the only one damaging factor is the emission of neutrons. That is, there is no shock wave as such, nothing burns and collapses. All electrical engineering and electronics simply fails, and living organisms die. At the same time, money, apartment keys and clothes remain intact.
  2. A nuclear bomb has power limits. From the fact that during the explosion, not all "pieces" of Uranium-235 have time to interact with neutron fluxes. The hydrogen bomb uses a "stuffing" from a nuclear bomb on Uranium-235, which is needed to create high temperatures for thermonuclear fusion in a shell of Uranium-238. Obtaining Uranium-235 is very difficult due to its small presence in ordinary Uranus. Uranium-238 is more common. Thus, the hydrogen bomb has no maximum power limit ....
  3. hydrogen is more terrible, it infects more in terms of area and power
  4. in simple terms, the atomic bomb ..
    heavy chemical elements are needed - a..
    no hydrogen (atomic hydrogen is plasma)
  5. Nuclear - "fission".
    Hydrogen - "fission-synthesis-fission".
  6. 2dalex
    I forgot to mention that in the hydrogen bomb, not simple hydrogen is used for the filling, but molecules of the H5 type.
    In addition, the hydrogen bomb has a plus - after it the earth is not a radioactive scorched desert, but a scorched desert =)
  7. Filling - added heavy hydrogen.
  8. Unlike an atomic bomb, in which energy is released during the explosion as a result of the fission of an atomic nucleus, a thermonuclear reaction occurs in a hydrogen bomb, similar to that which can be observed on the Sun.
    The interior of the Sun contains a gigantic amount of hydrogen, which is in a state of ultra-high compression at an ultra-high temperature of millions of degrees. At such high temperatures and plasma densities, hydrogen nuclei experience constant collisions with each other. Some of these collisions end in their merger and the formation of heavier helium nuclei. This is thermonuclear fusion, in which a huge amount of energy is released, since part of the mass of light nuclei is converted into energy during the synthesis of heavier helium.
    atomic charge in thermonuclear bomb serves as a kind of fuse, providing the ultra-high temperatures necessary to start the synthesis.
  9. In the depths of stars, due to the presence of high temperature, actively flow nuclear reactions, the raw material for which is, for example, deuterium (heavy hydrogen).

    There are no such conditions on Earth. The explosion of an atomic bomb creates conditions close to solar for less than one millionth of a second. The question is, is it possible, using a conventional atomic bomb as a detonator, to cause a detonation wave traveling through deuterium? The detonation of deuterium would give 10,000,000 times more energy per unit mass than, for example, the detonation of trinitrotoluene (TNT).

    It is known that there is a limit to the released energy of a conventional atomic bomb. When a supercritical mass is created, a nuclear chain reaction occurs. Considering that the rate of creation of a supercritical mass from a subcritical mass is finite, there is a limit to the created supercritical mass. If there is a non-damping nuclear detonation, especially in such a cheap substance as deuterium, then the power of the bomb is not limited from above. This is where the idea came from scary bomb, which was called "hydrogen" before they were convinced of the possibility of its creation.

  10. nuclear to solid, hydrogen to hydrogen ....
  11. Sakharov is 95 years old.
  12. like an apple from a fruit
  13. Tricky question ... "hydrogen" bombs can be called those bombs in which, with one contribution or another, nuclear reactions involving hydrogen isotopes are used. The very first nuclear bomb used polonium to start the fission reaction. So it can be successfully called "polonium") And in modern launch products a little more often than always used ... right)

Sunday, September 3rd North Korea announced it had tested an advanced hydrogen bomb, also known as the thermo nuclear bomb. Thus, Pyongyang moved away from experiments with first-generation nuclear weapons. What is the difference between an atomic bomb and a more advanced hydrogen bomb?

detonation process

The fundamental difference lies in the process of detonation. The explosive power of an atomic bomb - such as was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - is the result of a sudden release of energy that occurs due to the fission of the nucleus of heavy chemical element such as plutonium. This is a division process.

A few years after the United States created the first atomic bomb, which was tested in New Mexico, the Americans developed a weapon based on the same technology, but with an improved detonation process for a more powerful explosion. This weapon was later called the thermonuclear bomb.

The process of detonation of such weapons consists of several stages and begins with the detonation of an atomic bomb. As a result of this first explosion, a temperature of several million degrees is created. This creates enough energy to bring the two nuclei close enough that they can fuse. This second step is called synthesis.

Form plays a role

According to experts, the latest bomb tested by North Korea was significantly different from the previous ones and was a device divided into chambers. This suggests that we are talking about a two-stage hydrogen bomb.

"The photographs show a more complete form of a possible hydrogen bomb, where the primary atomic bomb and the secondary fusion stage are combined with each other in the form hourglass", - explained Lee Chun Guang, senior researcher at the South Korean State Institute scientific and technological problems.

Different power

The power of a thermonuclear bomb can be hundreds of thousands of times greater than that of an atomic bomb. The explosive power of the latter is often calculated in kilotons. One kiloton is equal to one thousand tons of TNT. The unit for measuring the power of a thermonuclear bomb is a megaton, or a million tons of TNT.

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    Bomb jumping

    I wonder when they will notice that there is no water in the pool?

According to news reports, North Korea is threatening to test a hydrogen bomb over Pacific Ocean. In response, President Trump is imposing new sanctions on individuals, companies and banks that do business with the country.

“I think this could be a hydrogen bomb test at an unprecedented level, perhaps over Pacific", - said this week during a meeting on General Assembly United Nations in New York, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho. Rhee added that "it depends on our leader."

Atomic and hydrogen bomb: differences

Hydrogen bombs or thermonuclear bombs are more powerful than atomic or "fission" bombs. The difference between hydrogen bombs and atomic bombs starts at the atomic level.

Atomic bombs, like those used to devastate the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima during World War II, work by splitting the nucleus of an atom. When neutrons or neutral particles of the nucleus split, some fall into the nuclei of neighboring atoms, splitting them too. The result is a very explosive chain reaction. According to the Union of Scientists, the bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a yield of 15 kilotons and 20 kilotons toe.

In contrast, the first test of a thermonuclear weapon or hydrogen bomb in the United States in November 1952 resulted in the explosion of some 10,000 kilotons of TNT. Thermonuclear bombs start with the same fission reaction that drives atomic bombs—but most of uranium or plutonium is not actually used in atomic bombs. In a thermonuclear bomb, the extra step means that there is more explosive power of the bomb.

First, the igniting explosion compresses a sphere of plutonium-239, a material that will then be fissile. Inside this pit of plutonium-239 is a chamber of hydrogen gas. High temperatures and the pressures created by the fission of plutonium-239 cause the hydrogen atoms to fuse. This fusion process releases neutrons that are returned to plutonium-239, fissuring more atoms and strengthening the fission chain reaction.

Nuclear tests

Governments around the world use global monitoring systems to detect nuclear tests as part of efforts to enforce the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. There are 183 parties to this treaty, but it is not in effect because key countries, including the United States, have not ratified it. Since 1996, Pakistan, India and North Korea have held nuclear tests. However, the treaty introduced a seismic monitoring system that can distinguish nuclear explosion from an earthquake. International system monitoring also includes stations that detect infrasound, a sound whose frequency is too low for human ears to detect explosions. Eighty radionuclide monitoring stations around the world measure precipitation, which could prove that the explosion detected by other monitoring systems was, in fact, nuclear.