The Development, Decision, and Reaction. Albert Einstein writes letter to FDR Albert Einstein writes letter to FDR Telling him about the possibility.

The Development, The Development, Decision, and Decision, and

ReactionReaction

Albert Einstein writes letter to Albert Einstein writes letter to FDR FDR Telling him about the Telling him about the

possibility of an atomic bomb possibility of an atomic bomb ANDAND

That Germany might be That Germany might be working on oneworking on one

Special Theory of Relativity Special Theory of Relativity (E=mc(E=mc²)²)Mass can be converted to Mass can be converted to

Energy where “c” is the speed Energy where “c” is the speed of lightof light

A small amount of mass can A small amount of mass can create a huge amount of energy create a huge amount of energy

Code name for the project Code name for the project to develop the Atomic to develop the Atomic BombBomb Named for site of Columbia University where much of Named for site of Columbia University where much of

early research doneearly research done

125,000 workers125,000 workers2.2 Billion 2.2 Billion

dollarsdollarsComplete Complete

secrecysecrecy Most did not Most did not

know the know the ultimate purpose ultimate purpose of their work of their work until news of until news of Hiroshima Hiroshima bombingbombing

Leo SzilardLeo Szilard Fled Germany in 1933Fled Germany in 1933 Conducted Conducted 11stst controlled controlled

nuclear reactionnuclear reaction Created Created 11stst Nuclear Nuclear

Reactor w/ Enrico FermiReactor w/ Enrico FermiJ. Robert OppenheimerJ. Robert Oppenheimer

Headed Headed Los Alamos Los Alamos LabLaboratoryoratory

Helped to direct Helped to direct 11stst test of test of atomic bombatomic bomb

Maj. Gen. Leslie GrovesMaj. Gen. Leslie Groves Director of Manhattan Director of Manhattan

ProjectProject Credited with success of itCredited with success of it

FissionFission – – the splitting of an atomic nucleus the splitting of an atomic nucleus resulting in the release of large amounts of resulting in the release of large amounts of energyenergy

Energy Released Energy Released from Each from Each FissionFission200 MeV 200 MeV

((million electron million electron volts) volts)

Includes gamma Includes gamma radiation radiation (deadly)(deadly)

http://www.atomicarchive.com/Fission/FissionMov1.shtml

Chain ReactionChain Reaction – – Process in which Process in which neutrons released in neutrons released in fission produce an fission produce an additional fissionadditional fission

http://www.atomicarchive.com/Movies/Movie1.shtml

Time of Reaction –Time of Reaction – Released neutron Released neutron

travels at speed of 10 travels at speed of 10 million meters per million meters per secondsecond

Complete Process of a Complete Process of a bomb explosion is a bomb explosion is a microsecond (1 microsecond (1 millionth of a second)millionth of a second)

Critical MassCritical MassThe point at which the The point at which the

chain reaction becomes chain reaction becomes self sustaining.self sustaining.

Manufacturing & Manufacturing & Separating Isotopes Separating Isotopes NecessaryNecessary U235 – only 0.7% of U235 – only 0.7% of

uraniumuranium P239 – not naturally P239 – not naturally

occurring, had to be occurring, had to be mademade

Creating & Creating & Controlling Chain Controlling Chain Reaction / Bomb Reaction / Bomb DesignDesign How do you set it off How do you set it off

without blowing without blowing yourself up?yourself up?

The will work but The will work but are they safe?are they safe?

Uranium BombUranium Bomb220 lbs220 lbs

Simpler – More Simpler – More FissionableFissionable

900lbs total900lbs totalGun - TypeGun - Type

http://www.atomicarchive.com/Movies/Movie9.shtml http://www.atomicarchive.com/Movies/Movie9.shtml

Plutonium BombPlutonium BombMore Complicated ProcessMore Complicated ProcessImplosionImplosion started chain started chain

reactionreactionStrongerStronger of the two bombs of the two bombs

http://www.atomicarchive.com/Movies/Movie3.shtml http://www.atomicarchive.com/Movies/Movie3.shtml

Alamogordo, Alamogordo, New New MexicoMexico

Plutonium BombPlutonium BombJuly 16, 1945 July 16, 1945 – 1– 1stst

SuccessfulSuccessful Test of Test of Atomic BombAtomic Bomb

Explosion Explosion larger than larger than expectedexpected Equivalent to 20,000 Equivalent to 20,000

tons of TNTtons of TNT Shock felt 160 miles Shock felt 160 miles

awayaway broke windows 120 broke windows 120

miles awaymiles away

http://www.atomicarchive.com/Movies/mushroomcloud.shtml http://www.atomicarchive.com/Movies/mushroomcloud.shtml

Vaporization pointVaporization point (1/2 mile – 98% fatalities, 3000(1/2 mile – 98% fatalities, 3000 - 4000 - 4000C)C)

Total destruction zoneTotal destruction zone (1 mile – 90% fatalities, all buildings destroyed)(1 mile – 90% fatalities, all buildings destroyed)

Severe blast damage areaSevere blast damage area (1.75 miles – 65% fatalities, 35% injuries – larger structures (1.75 miles – 65% fatalities, 35% injuries – larger structures

collapsed, bridges & roads damaged)collapsed, bridges & roads damaged)

Severe heat damage Severe heat damage (2.5 miles – 50% fatalities, 45% injuries – everything some kind (2.5 miles – 50% fatalities, 45% injuries – everything some kind

of burn, people killed from suffocation – Oxygen used by fire)of burn, people killed from suffocation – Oxygen used by fire)

Severe fire and wind damageSevere fire and wind damage (3 miles – 15% fatalities, 50% injuries – home & buildings (3 miles – 15% fatalities, 50% injuries – home & buildings

damaged, people blown around, 2nd degree burns, if they damaged, people blown around, 2nd degree burns, if they survived)survived)

Ground Zero Ground Zero (hypocenter)(hypocenter)Point on earth directly Point on earth directly

under point of under point of detonationdetonation

Thermal EffectsThermal EffectsRadiation = HeatRadiation = HeatTravels at speed of lightTravels at speed of lightVisible Light – Visible Light –

““flash blindness” – lasts flash blindness” – lasts several minutesseveral minutes

Skin Burns Skin Burns (2(2ndnd & 3 & 3rdrd Degree)Degree)10,000 severe burn cases10,000 severe burn cases

Can cause fires in Can cause fires in homes & buildingshomes & buildings

Thermal PulseThermal Pulse

http://www.atomicarchive.com/Effects/thermalpulse.shtml http://www.atomicarchive.com/Effects/thermalpulse.shtml

Blast EffectsBlast EffectsCauses most Causes most

damagedamageShockwave of air Shockwave of air

can crush & can crush & knockdown objectsknockdown objects

Large buildings Large buildings destroyed by destroyed by change in air change in air pressurepressure

People & Objects People & Objects destroyed by winddestroyed by wind

Destruction can Destruction can lead to fireslead to fires

http://www.atomicarchive.com/Effects/blastwave.shtml http://www.atomicarchive.com/Effects/blastwave.shtml

Nuclear RadiationNuclear RadiationInitial – radiation Initial – radiation

that arrives during that arrives during 11stst minute minute Strongest near Strongest near

ground zero – few die ground zero – few die from itfrom itWhy?Why?

Residual – From Residual – From radioactive falloutradioactive fallout

FalloutFalloutRadiation received Radiation received

from radioactive from radioactive particles that are particles that are distributed at distributed at varying distancesvarying distances

Carried by wind and Carried by wind and rainrain

Radiation Effects on Radiation Effects on HumansHumansHair LossHair LossBrain – seizures, Brain – seizures,

immediate deathimmediate deathIncreased Increased

susceptibility to susceptibility to infectioninfection

Increased risk for Increased risk for leukemia & lymphomaleukemia & lymphoma

Heart failure & deathHeart failure & deathBloody vomiting, Bloody vomiting,

diarrheadiarrheaSometimes sterilitySometimes sterility

Long Term EffectsLong Term EffectsBlood DisordersBlood DisordersCataractsCataractsMalignant Tumors Malignant Tumors

(Cancers)(Cancers)Keloids