Producing the First Atomic Bomb - 551 Words

Introduction Uranium is a dense radioactive metal that is used in nuclear reactors. It is found in nature and has two large isotopes, U-235 and U-238. The energy that is produced in nuclear reactors is from the splitting or fission of the U-235 atoms. It releases energy in most cases in the form of heat; U-235 is the main splitting isotope of uranium. Uranium enriched is required to be in light water reactors, which allows controlled nuclear reaction. Processes for Uranium Enrichment When producing the first atomic bomb, scientists from the Manhattan Project thought about multiple processes for uranium enrichment, now we have a few that we use which is Gaseous Diffusion also known as Effusion, Gas Centrifuge, and Laser separation. Gaseous diffusion is a technology that produces enriched uranium by forcing uranium hexafluoride through pipelines and then pumped through filters called barriers. This makes it where there is a slight separation between molecules, which contain uranium 235, and uranium 238. There are hundreds of barriers because one barrier isn’t enough to make uranium hexafluoride gas contain enough U238 that can be used in reactors. We only have on plant left and it is located in Paducah, Kentucky. The Gas Centrifuge was made to replace Gaseous Diffusion, it is a device that performs isotope separation of gases and it’s the preferred way because it takes less time, and takes less energy. We have these pl ants in New Mexico, Idaho and Ohio. Laser separation isShow MoreRelatedEssay about Nuclear Disarmament1349 Words   |  6 Pagesworld’s awareness on attempting to control nuclear stockpiles. Also, there are concerns of nuclear power plants producing uranium and plutonium as a by-product; the two fuels are used in producing nuclear devices. Although these nuclear power plants were never meant to produce uranium and plutonium, countries have left it available to civilians for research and testing.1 Nuclear bombs can be a result of this experimenting, which is why some form of disarmament and a system of verification on nuclearRead MoreUSSR Will Get a Bomb, It Just Matters if US Can Hold Them Off1498 Words   |  6 Pageswill get a bomb, it just matters if US can hold tehm off Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) should have shared limited information on the Manhattan Project with the Soviet Union (USSR) in order to bolster the integrity of their momentary coalition, promote international scientific collaboration, as well as prevent the eventual possibility of a nuclear armaments race. By the end of WWII Soviets spies had so deeply infiltrated the Manhattan Project that the possibility of keeping atomic weapons underRead MoreAmerica Chose To Drop Atomic Bombs On Japan, And This Affected1314 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica chose to drop atomic bombs on Japan, and this affected the war and the country in many ways. America was trying to stop the war and make Japan surrender. Atomic bombs, which are nuclear weapons, were dropped by the United States on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. Atomic bombs terrify everyone today, but at that time, they were considered an indispensable step for an early end to the war with minimal human losses. Some people belie ved the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki wereRead MoreThe Atomic Bomb : Manhattan Project1331 Words   |  6 PagesTopic: The Atomic Bomb: Manhattan Project The Manhattan Project was a research and development project that produced the first nuclear weapons during World War II. The Manhattan project was the invention of the first two nuclear bombs, Fat man and little boy. These two bombs were dropped on Japanese islands to end World War II. Math The formula E=MC2 is responsible for the immense power of the Atomic Bomb. E = mc2, equation in German-born physicist Albert Einstein’s theoryRead MoreThe Atomic Bomb : Manhattan Project1112 Words   |  5 PagesTopic: The Atomic Bomb: Manhattan Project What is it: The Manhattan Project was a research and development project that produced the first nuclear weapons during World War II. the manhattan project was the invention of the first two nuclear bombs, Fat man and little boy.These two bombs were dropped on japanese islands to end World War II. Math: The formula E=MC2 is responsible for the immense power of the Atomic Bomb. E = mc2, equation in German-born physicist Albert Einstein’s theory of specialRead MoreThe First Lightning: The First Russian Nuclear Atomic Bomb1060 Words   |  5 PagesAugust 29,1949 the first nuclear atomic bomb was dropped known as the â€Å"First Lighting.† It was dropped on the testing site in Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan. This nuclear bomb was produced by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) also known as the Soviet Union. Igor Kurchatov was the director of the scientific soviet nuclear bomb program. There were two practice rounds two weeks prior to the explosion. During these two weeks period the Special Committee on the atomic bomb sent Lavrentii BeriaRead MoreThe Atomic Bomb : Manhattan Project1331 Words   |  6 PagesTopic: The Atomic Bomb: Manhattan Project The Manhattan Project was a research and development project that produced the first nuclear weapons during World War II. The Manhattan project was the invention of the first two nuclear bombs, Fat man and little boy. These two bombs were dropped on Japanese islands to end World War II. Math The formula E=MC2 is responsible for the immense power of the Atomic Bomb. E = mc2, equation in German-born physicist Albert Einstein’s theoryRead MoreThe Atomic Bomb1584 Words   |  7 Pagesthe choice to drop the atomic bomb or to attempt more land invasions was a choice that shaped the outcome of the war. There were major influences and side effects from the dropping of the atomic bomb and what it did to the country of Japan. Having the option and the weight of the moral decision weighing on Truman’s shoulders about what decision should be made, he was the only one who was capable of making the decision that shaped the outcome of the war. Having dropped the bomb on Japan, as a statementRead MoreThe World s First Atomic Bomb Essay1326 Words   |  6 Pagesmaking of the world’s first atomic weapons. This was a major asset that led the U.S into beating Japan and caused the war to cumulate. The Manhattan Project brought nations together, took the necessary meas ure to end World War II, and gave America multiple industrial advancements used in modern day warfare. The Manhattan Project was the code name for the effort to produce the first atomic bomb during WWII. The project began in 1939, when two scientists accomplished atomic fission in uranium. TheseRead More Individual and Society: Nuclear Weapons Essay657 Words   |  3 PagesIndividual and Society: Nuclear Weapons The background of atomic weapons begins in 1896 with the discovery of radioactivity by Beoquerel. The nuclear age however, really erupted in the 1940’s. since that decade, many individuals have contributed to developing the nuclear arms race. The evolution of nuclear weapons has made a large impact on society by causing a great deal of trauma, dispute and competition. Nuclear weapons developed in the 1940’s. Scientists in the 19th century