History of Atomic Bomb

Atomic Bomb Is a nuclear fission product used as armament for mass destruction. It utilizes power released from the split of atomic nuclei. An atomic bomb has a tremendous explosive power caused by sudden energy release upon fission of heavy elements’ nuclei such as plutonic and uranium (Rhodes). High temperature and pressure generated by fission eruption are essential in initiating fusion, thus discharging a thermonuclear explosive. Scientists developed the first nuclear weapons technology during world war II. This paper gives a detailed discussion about the atomic bomb history, uses and impacts in the second world war. 

 Atomic Bomb production

Atomic bomb creation involves striking of a heavy atom’s nucleus by neutrons uncontrollably, splitting the nucleus into two sections with each fragment having almost half the neurons and protons from the core. The fleeing neutrons in the fission process strike the surrounding uranium nuclei, emitting more neurons (Rhodes). The rapidly multiplying fissions ends up forming a chain reaction resulting in an explosion with an abundant amount of thermal energy and gamma rays. Many uranium isotopes can go through the fission process, but uranium 235 undergoes fission efficiently emitting more neutrons in each fission compared to other uranium isotopes. Plutonium 239 also possess the same qualities, thus making the two elements primary components of an atomic bomb.

            For an explosion to occur, a fissionable material is brought from stable to the unstable state by combining two masses into one critical mass by explosives which shoot subcritical pellets of fissionable materials into a hollow tube. Implosion method is also used where the fissile material is quickly compressed into reduced sizes with higher density. As a result of high frequency, the nuclei become more closely packed increasing the chances of an emitting neuron to strike the core. The thermal energy and heat produced during an atomic bomb result in high degrees of temperature in the exploding bomb, creating a massive fireball that can destroy a whole city. Convectional currents from the explosion suck dust from the ground forming heavy clouds. A sound shock wave is also produced which may end up destroying structures miles away from the explosion point. Materials from the fireball vaporize and later condense into fine particles and radioactive debris which increases the risk of cancer development(Rhodes).

Development of Atomic Bombs

 Nuclear weapons were first developed by scientists during the second world war and were used only twice in the second world war by the United States of America against Japan. The bomb was first realized by Lise Meitner, Otto Hahn, and Strassman in 1938 in Berlin Germany after the discovery of nuclear fission. Later it was invented by other scientists including Robert S (Rhodes). Norris, general Leslie Cynthia C. Kelly, and Robert J Oppenheimer. The first successful American effort to develop a functional bomb was the Manhattan project initiated by President Franklin on December 28th, 1942, at Los Alamos where the central scientific laboratory had been established on 25th November 1942. The project aimed at bringing together scientists and military administrators working on the nuclear exploration.

            On 16th of July 1945, the first bomb was successfully exploded by the U.S, 193km south of Albuquerque in Mexico, termed the Trinity test. It produced massive clouds and smoke of about 40,000 feet above the ground ushering in the atomic era. By 1945, scientists had established two types of nuclear weapons which they nick-named; the “fat man” and ”little boy, ”plutonium-based and uranium-based respectively. The first bomb was used by united states during warfare against Hiroshima, on 6th August 1945. Hiroshima was a convenient place as no bombing had ever occurred and also, it was a large city port hosting an army base thus, the power of the weapon would be noticeable. The bomb used uranium and was dropped from a bomber aircraft called Enola Gay (Roesch). It had a strength exceeding 15,000 tons of TNT, devastating a region of 4.4 square miles. Approximately 70,000-80,000 people died instantly, while the death toll raised to 100,000 by the end of the year due to radiation exposure. The city’s structures and property exceeding 67% was also destroyed during the explosion.

            Three days later, U.S exploded a plutonic type bomb at Nagasaki producing a blast of 21,000 tons of TNT, killing approximately 39,000 individuals instantly while about 25,000 got severe injuries. Initially, the American bombers had targeted Kokura city which hosted one of Japan’s largest ammunition plant, but firebombing raids produced so much smoke to the sky hindering a successful attack. As a result, the planes opted for the next target, Nagasaki (Roesch). The bomb was so strong that it destroyed more than 40% of property and structures in the city, causing Hirohito the Japanese emperor to give in thus marking the end of  World War II.

            Atomic attack in Nagasaki and Hiroshima resulted in devastation to Japan’ residents predisposing victims to short-term and long-term effects.  Many individuals perished due to intense radiation and severe burns as well as bomb-related shock. Leukemia cases were also high, and many individuals perished. Survivors who had experienced extreme levels of radiation exposure suffered from lung cancer, thyroid cancer and also breast cancer among women. An increased level of anemia cases was also recorded, lasting for as long as ten years (Roesch). In the later periods after the bomb attacks, offspring experienced higher rates of mutation and recurrent abnormalities such as microcephaly, a condition where one has a smaller head than the normal size, cardiovascular diseases and other autoimmune syndromes influenced by radiation exposure. Discrimination increased in the society especially upon parents having   children with genetic defects. The atomic attack deposited harmful nuclear waste materials to the environment leaving sites contaminated posing greater health risks to the residents of Hiroshima and Nagasaki(Roesch).

            Years after world war 2, U.S became the sole owner for nuclear weapons as other countries lacked relevant information and raw materials necessary for nuclear warheads. Later on, U.S.S.R gained a detailed plan on how to build a splitting style bomb. It also discovered Uranium source in Eastern Europe, steering plans for developing its weapons. On 29th August 1949, the first nuclear bomb was experimented on by the Soviets. In response to researchers’ success, in 1950 U.S launched a program aimed at developing advanced thermonuclear arms. The research efforts on nuclear weapons marked the beginning of cold war arms rivalry, making research and nuclear assessment primary goals for countries like the Soviet Union and the U.S.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Few decades after the cold war, each global force was in a position to produce thousands of atomic warheads including countries like France, China, and Great Britain. In October 1962, the world appeared to be at the verge of a nuclear war, with the Soviet Union having installed thermonuclear weapons in Cuba. A 13-day military and political standstill were experienced in the involved countries termed as Cuban missile crisis. The crisis was later on resolved after the U.S accepted an offer from Nikita Khrushchev, a Soviet leader who agreed to eliminate the Cuban missile if America ended the invasion to Cubans (Rhodes).

Three-Mile Island

Between 1940 and 1950s many American citizens became aware of the harmful effects of nuclear explosives such as radioactive rays emitted by an explosion to the environment. The health and environmental concern led to the establishment of a social movement; Antinuclear movement first held on 1st November 1961.The peaceful demonstration involved more than 50,0000 women who paraded 60 cities of U.S demonstrating against atomic weapons. The protests heightened to a national level between 1970 and 1980. Finally, the most significant civil protest in U. S history was made in 1982 with over a million citizens trooping in New York opposing the use of atomic weapons, leading to the end of the cold war (Roesch).

            In 1968, the Soviet Union and united states signed the nuclear nonproliferation treaty classifying states into nuclear and non-nuclear states. Nucleus states including united states, Great Britain, China, and France agreed not to help the others to acquire the weapons and to reduce nuclear stock, aiming at total disarmament. In the 1990s the Soviet Union collapsed and more armaments from Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan cities were collected, deactivated and transported back to Russia. In 2003, North Korea withdrew its membership from the treaty, and since then it has openly sampled atomic weapons by authorization from various states and global bodies. Currently, Iran claims to have the capability to produce nuclear weapons at a minimum duration (Rhodes).

Conclusion

Although the initial radiation from the bomb caused more harm to the environment and human beings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the radiation levels have declined with time reducing the harmful effects of radioactive rays. The present radiation level quantities are low and considered to be normal in any other part of the earth thus no considerable effect on human beings. At the invention process, scientists were motivated to invent the atomic bomb as it would change warfare forever making the united states a superpower. On the contrary, the adverse effects of the nuclear weaponry surpassed the advantages as the radioactivity was hazardous. The prominence of atomic bombs has declined over time, and currently, it is considered the most destructive weapon to be invented by the united states.

Works Cited

Rhodes, Richard. The Making of the Atomic Bomb. Simon and Schuster, 2012.

Roesch, William C. US-Japan Joint Reassessment of Atomic Bomb Radiation Dosimetry in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. DS86. Dosimetry System 1986. Vol. 1. 1987.