atom bomb
Fission-powered explosive device
An atom bomb is a weapon of enormous destructive power that releases energy through nuclear fission—the splitting of atomic nuclei.
First used in warfare against Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, ending World War II.
Also called atomic bomb or A-bomb.
The term sometimes extends loosely to any nuclear weapon, including hydrogen bombs.
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- critical massThreshold for self-sustaining reaction
neutrons · nucleus · isotopes · radioactivity · enrichment · implosion · yield · kiloton
Clandestine atomic weapons program
- Trinity testInitial nuclear weapon explosion
- Enola GayHistoric atomic bomber
- Little BoyCodename for Hiroshima bomb
- Fat ManImplosion-type nuclear device
Oppenheimer · Los Alamos · Cold War · V-J Day · nuclear arms race · Truman · Fermi · Teller
First nuclear-struck city
- NagasakiSecond city bombed atomically
- mushroom cloudDistinctive nuclear blast formation
- ground zeroExplosion's central impact point
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
annihilation · obliteration · aftermath · wasteland · radiation sickness · blast radius · firestorm · vaporization
Restricting weapons dissemination
- disarmamentReducing or eliminating weapons
- treatyBinding pact between nations
- IAEAU.N. atomic oversight body
- sanctionsPunitive international restrictions
enrichment program · deterrent · arsenal · inspection · smuggling · rogue state · verification · moratorium
Preventing war through retaliation threat
- mutually assured destructionReciprocal nuclear annihilation threat
- air raidAerial military attack
- payloadCarried freight or charge
- bomberExplosive-delivery aircraft or saboteur
delivery system · stockpile · first strike · retaliation · arms race · nuclear triad · ICBM · warhead
fission
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
critical mass · neutrons · nucleus · isotopes · radioactivity · enrichment · implosion · yield · kiloton · megaton
Manhattan Project
Clandestine atomic weapons program
- Trinity testInitial nuclear weapon explosion
- Enola GayHistoric atomic bomber
- Little BoyCodename for Hiroshima bomb
Oppenheimer · Fat Man · Los Alamos · Cold War · V-J Day · nuclear arms race · Truman · Fermi · Teller · Groves
Hiroshima
First nuclear-struck city
- NagasakiSecond city bombed atomically
- mushroom cloudDistinctive nuclear blast formation
- ground zeroExplosion's central impact point
fallout · annihilation · obliteration · aftermath · wasteland · radiation sickness · blast radius · firestorm · vaporization · hypocenter
nonproliferation
Restricting weapons dissemination
- disarmamentReducing or eliminating weapons
- treatyBinding pact between nations
- IAEAU.N. atomic oversight body
sanctions · enrichment program · deterrent · arsenal · inspection · smuggling · rogue state · verification · moratorium · test ban
nuclear deterrence
Preventing war through retaliation threat
- mutually assured destructionReciprocal nuclear annihilation threat
- air raidAerial military attack
- payloadCarried freight or charge
bomber · delivery system · stockpile · first strike · retaliation · arms race · nuclear triad · ICBM · warhead · bunker
- Nuclear Armsnuclear arms, nukes, nuclear warheads, nuclear stockpile, nuclear deterrence
- Nuclear Testsnuclear test, nuclear explosion, underground test, atmospheric test, weapons test
- nuclear weaponswarheads, warhead, nuclear warhead, nuke, nuclear missile
- 1950sEisenhower, poodle skirt, Elvis Presley, Rosa Parks, baby boom
- postwar eraMarshall Plan, prosperity, reconstruction, Cold War, iron curtain
- Explosivesdynamite, grenade, TNT, C-4, land mine
atom bombconventional weapon
Non-WMD military armament
firecracker · cap gun · slingshot · peashooter · BB gun
atom bombcure
Treatment that heals
vaccine · penicillin · medical breakthrough · green energy · nuclear power plant
atom bombpeace treaty
Formal end to hostilities
olive branch · white flag · disarmament · nuclear nonproliferation · armistice
bomb, atom, bombing, atomic, bombs, bombard, atoms, bombshell, bombastic