Anniversity of the Big Bang: From theory to fact

Platapus · 07-16-13, 07:38 PM

Sixty-eight years ago.

The first atomic explosion occurred at just about 0530 on 16 July 1945 at the Alamogordo bombing and gunnery range in New Mexico. The area is now part of the White Sands Missile Test Range.

It was a Plutonium implosion device containing 6.2kg of 239PU mixed with 3% gallium. This was surrounded by 2,112 kg of high explosives.

Of the 6.2kg of 239PU about 1KG of 239PU underwent fission (17%). Of that 1,000 grams that underwent fission, about 1 gram was converted into energy. One gram.

The final yield was 18.6KT of TNT equivalent which was about twice as big as was predicted, hence many measuring devices were destroyed or damaged.

About 9 years later there were reports of giant ants but that's another story.

07-16-13, 07:38 PM	#1
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,373 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Anniversity of the Big Bang: From theory to fact Sixty-eight years ago. The first atomic explosion occurred at just about 0530 on 16 July 1945 at the Alamogordo bombing and gunnery range in New Mexico. The area is now part of the White Sands Missile Test Range. It was a Plutonium implosion device containing 6.2kg of 239PU mixed with 3% gallium. This was surrounded by 2,112 kg of high explosives. Of the 6.2kg of 239PU about 1KG of 239PU underwent fission (17%). Of that 1,000 grams that underwent fission, about 1 gram was converted into energy. One gram. The final yield was 18.6KT of TNT equivalent which was about twice as big as was predicted, hence many measuring devices were destroyed or damaged. About 9 years later there were reports of giant ants but that's another story. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.