How an Atomic Bomb works By: Devan Brewer

History of the Atomic Bomb Although the atomic bomb was first introduced in 1945 the idea of the bomb went back as early as 1895. At this point a scientist by the name of Wilhelm Roentgen first discovered the X-ray by using a cloud chamber that was capable of tracking charged particles. This radiation was what fueled the atomic bomb. Next in 1898 Marie Curie discovered the radioactive element radium which had the capabilities of making a mass destruction similar to the long term results of the bombings in Japan. Larger steps would be taken later in the invention of the atomic bomb. In 1905 Albert Einstein developed the theories of the relationship of mass and energy. Next from 1913 to 1938 the radiation detector is invented. This is used by an American physician to diagnose heart disease. Afterwards a demonstration is made on the ideas of nuclear fission. Finally in July of 1945 The United States Tested the first atomic device in a closed military area in New Mexico this was the invention of the atomic bomb.

How it works An atom bomb works by starting a nuclear chain reaction on impact. The explosion releases a large number of energy that is easily a billion times the amount of a regular stick of dynamite. The reason the atom bomb is so destructive is because of the nuclear reaction that occurs in the bomb. The mass destruction that follows the explosion of the bomb is created by its nuclear reaction. This Nuclear reaction occurs when the neutrons in each atom are fired at other atoms that are extremely close to each other. These atoms usually have very weighted nuclei and are mostly isotopes of the elements uranium and plutonium. When a nucleus is hit by the neutron it breaks in a smaller and lighter atom and this is known as nuclear fission. This process repeats over and over again until a chain reaction is formed. This nuclear chain reaction is what triggers the explosion if the bomb and is what gives the bomb so much power.

Nuclear Fission Nuclear Fission is the process of elements being broken up by neutrons into smaller elements. In this picture the element uranium is added with a neutron which increases its atomic mass. The element then splits, forming two new elements( Baron an Krypton) and two neutrons.

The Atomic Bomb The atomic bomb was first introduced in 1945. It is triggered by a nuclear chain reaction which is started by nuclear fission the atom bomb wiped out a good portion of Japan and the effects of the bomb are still in play today. "I have always condemned the use of the atomic bomb against Japan.“ – Albert Einstein. This quote proves that Einstein was against the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Bibliography http://www.doug-long.com/einstein.htm http://inventors.about.com/od/timelines/tp/nuclear.01.htm http://www.wisegeek.com/how-does-an-atomic-bomb-work.htm