Oppenheimer Atomic bomb How it Works | First Nuclear Bomb

Summary

This video explores the history and mechanics of the atomic bomb 'Little Boy,' dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. It explains the B-29 bomber Enola Gay's role, the design and components of the uranium-235 gun-type bomb, and how the nuclear fission process triggered a devastating explosion. Viewers are guided through step-by-step details of the bomb’s activation, including its impact zones and destructive power. Through detailed animations, the video also contrasts 'Little Boy' with 'Fat Man,' offering insight into both bombs used during WWII. A must-watch for those interested in engineering and history.

Takeaways

• 💣 The Enola Gay, a B-29 bomber, dropped the 'Little Boy' atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
• ⚛️ Little Boy was a uranium-235, gun-type nuclear bomb, one of the first nuclear weapons tested on humans.
• 🔬 J. Robert Oppenheimer, often called the 'father of the atomic bomb,' later regretted his role and fought to eliminate nuclear weapons.
• 🧨 The bomb's mechanism involved launching a uranium projectile at 300 meters per second to create a nuclear explosion.
• ☢️ Nuclear fission is the process in which heavy atomic nuclei split into lighter nuclei, releasing vast amounts of energy.
• 🏗️ Little Boy was smaller and lighter than the 'Fat Man' plutonium bomb but still packed destructive power.
• ✈️ The B-29 Superfortress was used to carry the atomic bomb and was one of the most advanced bombers of World War II.
• 📏 The blast radius of Little Boy was divided into several zones, with total destruction occurring within 0.36 square kilometers and severe damage extending to 4.5 square kilometers.
• 🧪 The bomb's parts included uranium-235 rings, tungsten carbide discs, polonium initiators, and a 6.5-inch smoothbore gun barrel.
• 🌍 The bomb was designed for an airburst detonation at 580 meters above ground, ensuring maximum destruction through an altitude-sensitive barometric and radar altimeter system.

Q & A

What was the name of the plane that carried the atomic bomb 'Little Boy' to Hiroshima?

The plane was a B-29 bomber named the 'Enola Gay.'

What type of nuclear bomb was 'Little Boy' and what was its composition?

'Little Boy' was a uranium-235, gun-type nuclear bomb.

Who was J. Robert Oppenheimer and why is he significant to the development of nuclear weapons?

J. Robert Oppenheimer, often called the 'father of the atomic bomb,' was a key scientist in the Manhattan Project. He later advocated for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

What were the two types of atomic bombs developed by the Manhattan Project?

The Manhattan Project developed two bombs: 'Little Boy,' a uranium gun-type bomb, and 'Fat Man,' a plutonium implosion bomb.

What was the weight of the uranium used in 'Little Boy'?

The uranium used in 'Little Boy' weighed around 65.5 kilograms (145.5 pounds), split between the hollow projectile rings and the target rings.

How did the barometric sensing ports in 'Little Boy' work?

The barometric sensing ports measured the altitude to determine when the bomb was close enough to the ground to trigger the explosion.

What were the steps leading to the detonation of 'Little Boy' once it was dropped?

The bomb switched to internal power, measured altitude using a barometer, activated radar altimeters, ignited gun primers, launched the uranium projectile, and initiated a nuclear chain reaction via polonium initiators.

What is nuclear fission, and how did it occur in 'Little Boy'?

Nuclear fission occurs when heavy atomic nuclei split into smaller nuclei, releasing energy. In 'Little Boy,' the uranium nuclei underwent fission when struck by neutrons, causing a chain reaction and explosion.

What was the size of the destructive blast zones from 'Little Boy'?

The central blast zone was 0.36 square kilometers, with severe damage up to 4.5 square kilometers and moderate damage extending to 8.7 square kilometers.

What was the primary role of the B-29 Superfortress, and why was it considered advanced for its time?

The B-29 Superfortress was the heaviest production bomber of WWII, capable of carrying 20,000-pound bombs and featuring remote-controlled turrets for defense, making it one of the most advanced bombers of its era.

Outlines

00:00

💣 The Hiroshima Atomic Bomb: Little Boy

On August 6, 1945, the American B-29 bomber named 'Enola Gay' left Tinian island for Hiroshima, Japan, carrying the uranium-235 bomb, 'Little Boy.' This was the first atomic bomb used in warfare, regretted even by scientists like J. Robert Oppenheimer, who helped develop it through the Manhattan Project but later opposed nuclear weapons. The bomb's uranium projectile, launched at 300 m/s, initiates nuclear fission, creating a massive explosion. The animation will explain the neutron fission process, blast radius zones, and provide a comparison of the destructive power between Little Boy and Fat Man, another bomb developed by the project.

05:01

🛫 The B-29 Superfortress and Bomb Delivery Mechanism

The B-29 Superfortress, one of the most fortified planes of its era, carried Little Boy. Equipped with twelve 50-caliber machine guns and remote-controlled turrets, the plane was designed for defense. The bomb deployment involved opening the Bombay doors and pulling arming plugs. The bomb’s fall activated a 24-volt battery and timers, leading to the deployment of barometric sensors and radar altimeters to ensure precise detonation. This complex step-by-step process ensured the bomb exploded at a specific height above ground, causing massive destruction through nuclear fission, impacting various zones as explained through animations.

Keywords

💡Enola Gay

The Enola Gay is the American B-29 bomber plane that dropped the first nuclear bomb, 'Little Boy,' on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945. This aircraft symbolizes the start of the nuclear age, marking a pivotal moment in World War II and history. The plane is significant to the video as the vehicle used to transport and release the atomic bomb, setting the stage for the discussion of nuclear weapons.

💡Little Boy

Little Boy is the codename for the uranium-235 gun-type nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It was the first nuclear weapon used in warfare, illustrating the devastating power of atomic bombs. In the video, 'Little Boy' is explained in detail, including its components, mechanics, and the science behind its explosive force.

💡Manhattan Project

The Manhattan Project was a secret U.S. government research initiative during World War II, aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Key figures like J. Robert Oppenheimer worked on it, and it led to the creation of 'Little Boy' and 'Fat Man.' The project is central to understanding the development of nuclear bombs discussed in the video.

💡Julius Robert Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer was a leading physicist and the scientific director of the Manhattan Project, often called the 'father of the atomic bomb.' While he contributed to the creation of the bomb, he later advocated against further nuclear weapons development. His role highlights the moral and scientific dilemmas surrounding nuclear warfare.

💡Nuclear fission

Nuclear fission is the process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts, releasing a massive amount of energy. This process powers atomic bombs like 'Little Boy' and 'Fat Man.' The video explains nuclear fission as the core reaction that causes the massive explosions seen in nuclear weapons.

💡Fat Man

Fat Man is the codename for the plutonium-implosion type atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, a few days after Hiroshima. Unlike 'Little Boy,' it used plutonium and an implosion mechanism. In the video, it's used to contrast with 'Little Boy,' explaining different bomb designs and their impacts.

💡Polonium initiators

Polonium initiators are used to start the nuclear chain reaction in a bomb. These devices ensure that enough neutrons are produced to trigger fission. In the video, they are mentioned as part of the mechanism that initiates the explosion in 'Little Boy,' emphasizing the precision required to make nuclear weapons functional.

💡Blast radius

The blast radius is the area affected by the explosion of a nuclear bomb. The video breaks this concept down into different zones, such as the 'central blast zone' and the 'light damage zone,' to explain the varying degrees of destruction caused by 'Little Boy' when it detonated over Hiroshima.

💡B-29 Super Fortress

The B-29 Super Fortress was the bomber used to carry out nuclear attacks during World War II, including the missions over Hiroshima```json and Nagasaki. It was one of the most advanced planes of its time, equipped with heavy defenses and long-range capabilities. In the video, the B-29 is described in detail as the platform that transported the first nuclear bombs, emphasizing its role in these historical missions.

💡Uranium-235

Uranium-235 is a fissile isotope of uranium used as the core material in nuclear weapons like 'Little Boy.' It is responsible for initiating the chain reaction that results in the massive energy release. The video details the role of uranium-235 in the bomb’s design, specifically its use in hollow projectile rings that collide to trigger the explosion.

Highlights

On August 6, 1945, the American B-29 bomber, Enola Gay, left the island of Tinian for Hiroshima, Japan, carrying the uranium-235 bomb named Little Boy.

Little Boy was one of the first nuclear weapons used on mankind, and its development was later regretted by J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb.

Julius Robert Oppenheimer, born on April 22, 1904, worked on the Manhattan Project and later fought to eliminate the production and development of nuclear weapons.

The uranium projectile in Little Boy was launched at 300 meters per second to initiate a chain reaction, leading to the nuclear explosion.

The Manhattan Project produced two types of atomic bombs: Little Boy (uranium-based) and Fat Man (plutonium-based).

Little Boy, measuring 3 meters long and 71 centimeters in diameter, weighed 4,400 kilograms and caused devastating destruction upon detonation.

The bomb's uranium-235 components included a hollow projectile ring weighing 38.4 kilograms and a uranium target ring weighing 25.6 kilograms.

The B-29 Super Fortress bomber, used to carry Little Boy, had a wingspan of 43 meters and could carry a 20,000-pound bomb load.

Before the bomb was dropped, three arming plugs were pulled by William Sterling Deke Parsons, starting the internal timer and battery system.

The bomb was designed to detonate at 580 meters above the ground to maximize destruction in an airburst.

Multiple radar altimeters and barometric sensors ensured the bomb detonated at the correct altitude for optimal destruction.

The firing mechanism ignited three Navy gun primers, launching the uranium projectile at high speed towards the target.

Polonium initiators triggered a nuclear chain reaction, leading to the fission process and subsequent explosion.

The explosion created a blast radius divided into zones: total destruction (0.36 km²), severe blast damage (4.5 km²), and moderate damage (8.7 km²).

The psychological and physical effects extended beyond the blast radius, affecting survivors with burns, radiation exposure, and trauma.

Transcripts

on August 6 1945 this American B-29

bomber four propeller plane named the

Enola Gay left the island of tinian for

Hiroshima Japan carrying the uranium-235

gun type bomb named little boy little

boy was one of the first nuclear weapons

tested on mankind

while the dangers in the engineering

behind it were even regretted by the

scientist Oppenheimer Julius Robert

Oppenheimer was born on April 22 1904.

he worked on the Manhattan Project and

was often coined as the father of the

atomic bomb

but the interesting part was later in

his life he fought to eliminate the

production and development of nuclear

weapons and died at the age of 62 1967.

this is how the uranium projectile is

launched at 300 meters per second to

initiate the four polonium for an extra

explosion placed on the tungsten carbide

we will also be looking at the nuclear

fission of the neutrons explained in

super simplified animations and not to

forget the different blast radius zones

of this first atomic bomb

so stay tuned and then don't miss a Beat

as we all know the Manhattan Project

produced two different types of atomic

nuclear weapons codenamed fat man and

little boy

this is the fat man atomic bomb is a

large heavy plutonium imploded using

shaped charges as shown in the

animations

while a little boy has a less heavy

uranium weapons triggered in a shotgun

or gun Tech Designs

the little boy has a length of 10 feet

or 3 meters with a diameter of 28 inches

71 centimeters

while the fat man has a length of 10

feet or 3.3 meters but a much larger

diameter of 60 inches or 1.5 meters

comparing this to a person will help you

understand its size

even better let's compare this to this

classic American SUV as you see both of

the nuclear weapons look small

considering the amount of destructive

power packed into it

this nuclear weapon weighs around

4898 kilograms or 10 800 pounds

while the low boy as the name suggests

weights just shy of 4 400 kilograms or

nine thousand seven hundred pounds

before we dive into how this works we

have to understand the parts of the

nuclear weapon starting from the back

these are the Box Tail Fins meant to

stabilize the bomb

when dropped from this B-29 super Fortis

bomber

these are the three electric gun primers

primer is the device responsible for

initiating the propellant combustion

located here also known as the chordate

or conventional charge that will push

this projectile at an explosive force

moving ahead this is the projectile

tungsten carbide disc

and the most important part is the

uranium-235 hollow projectile Rings it

weighs around 84 pounds or 38.4

kilograms

while the front is the uranium Target

rings that weigh around 56.2 pounds or

25.6 kilograms

that is around

145.5 pounds or 65.5 kilograms of

uranium

closely note as it is very important to

understand the projectile ring slugs are

hollowed and designed for the Target

rings to enter

all these mechanisms and parts are

encased in a 6.5 inch or 170 millimeter

Smooth Bore gun barrel

moving to the front this is the impact

absorbing Anvil just above it is the

tungsten carbide plug

these are the four polonium initiators

placed on the tungsten carbide they are

kept to make sure there will be a

nuclear chain reaction when it is

dropped and activated

moving to the top of the structure are

the arming infusing equipment let's move

outside this atomic bomb to understand

it better

these are the barometric sensing ports

and manifolds the barometer helps to

identify the altitude in which the bomb

is located so that it can activate this

Archy fusing radar altimeter which is

these curvy looking objects that

activates before reaching the ground

just above it is the electric plug and

some refer to this as the arming wires

all that destructive power requires a

platform to transport this nuclear

weapon the answers is this B-29 super

Fortress it was also the world's

heaviest production plane because of

increases in range bomb load and

defensive requirements Boeing built a

total of

2766 b-29s super Fortress planes and it

was the most advanced for propeller

driven bomber of the second World War

it has a length of 99 feet or 30.1

meters with a huge span of around 141

Feet 3 inches or 43 meters

interestingly the plane has a gross

weight of around 140 000 pounds or 63

502 kilograms and could carry a 20 000

pound bomb the Bombay door is located

just below the fuselage and it can open

them as shown in the animations

as stated this is one of the most

fortified plane in that era it can carry

around 12 50 caliber machine guns and

remote controlled turrets as shown in

the animation

two below the plane

four above the fuselage two remote

control turret one above and below near

the Tail

and the last two are located at the back

of the plane and that is one protected

gunship now that we've established the

B-29 super Fortress as a primary

transport let's take a look at how this

nuclear bomb Works in basic step-by-step

format

step number one before opening the

Bombay doors all three arming plugs are

pulled one after the other by the weapon

air William Sterling Deke Parsons

step number two

the doors open and the bomb Falls due to

gravity then it switches to its internal

24 volt battery and starts the timer

after 15 seconds the bomb would be

approximately 3 600 feet or one thousand

one hundred meters away from the

aircraft

step number three

the barometer senses the desired height

of around 580 meters or 1900 feet

as the little boy was designed to be an

air burst above the ground the membrane

closed his circuit activating the

multiple radar altimeters located at the

front of the bombs

the barometric stage was added because

of a worry that external radar signals

might detonate the weapon too early

step number four

to ensure accurate detection of final

altitude multiple radar altimeters were

utilized this process involves measuring

the altitude above the ground beneath

the aircraft or the little boy through

the timing of radio waves travel

reflection and return

once the correct height was sensed the

firing switch activates

step number five this ignites the three

Navy gun primers in the breech plug

step number six this sets off the charge

consisting of four silk powder bags each

containing two pounds or 0.9 kilograms

of cordite

step number seven the uranium projectile

will be launched at 300 meters per

second toward the opposite end of the

Gun Barrel

step number eight four polonium

initiators placed on the tungsten

carbide initiate the nuclear reactions

step number nine

this is where nuclear fission happens

the new Kyo certain heavy atoms split

into smaller lighter new kite releasing

excess energy in the process

let's dive a little bit deeper the

neutron strikes the nucleus and is

absorbed the absorbed Neutron causes the

nucleus to undergo deformation the

nucleus fission releases an average of

two or three neutrons thus creating a

chain reaction or in some words an

explosion

the blast radius can be divided into

several zones the central Blast Zone has

a diameter of 0.36 square kilometers

which is the extent of the firewall

radius this is the epicenter and

experienced almost total Destruction

severe blast damage Zone extends to

around 4.5 square kilometers this has

severe damage to buildings High

casualties and widespread destruction

and radiations modern blast zone is

about 8.7 square kilometers damage to

buildings and radiation burn is still

significant but less severe

light damage zone is beyond the blast

radius at 11 square kilometers here

there's fires radiation exposure and

psychological trauma-affected survivors

among the thousands

let's simplify this through these

animations once the correct height is

sensed the firing switch activates

the three Navy gun primers ignite the

charge consisting of four silk powder

bags each containing two pounds or 0.9

kilograms of cordite the uranium

projectile is launched at 300 meters per

second

at this point four polonium initiators

place on the tungsten carbide initiate

nuclear fission reactions in a

milliseconds there will be an explosion

damaging buildings and killing people by

the thousands

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