nuclear bomb
Fission-powered explosive device
A nuclear bomb is a weapon that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions—either fission (splitting heavy atoms) or fusion (combining light atoms).
The explosions release enormous energy, producing blast waves, intense heat, and radioactive fallout.
Nuclear bombs were used twice in warfare, against Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
The term covers both atomic bombs (fission) and hydrogen bombs (fusion).
The threat of nuclear bombs shaped Cold War politics.
Post-blast atmospheric particles
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- mushroom cloudDistinctive nuclear blast formation
- blast wavePressure surge from detonation
- fireballLuminous meteor or explosion
shockwave · electromagnetic pulse · EMP · ground zero · crater · vaporization · firestorm · black rain
Binding pact between nations
- disarmamentReducing or eliminating weapons
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- arsenalStockpile of munitions
- stockpileAccumulated reserve supply
test ban · SALT · START · arms control · inspection · sanctions · rogue state · Manhattan Project
First nuclear-struck city
- NagasakiSecond city bombed atomically
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- obliterationTotal destruction or erasure
- apocalypseTotal civilizational collapse
catastrophe · wasteland · destruction · casualties · survivors · aftermath · desolation · ruins
Reciprocal annihilation prevents war
- cold warHostility without open fighting
- arms raceEscalating weapons accumulation between nations
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- non-proliferationLimiting weapons spread
balance of power · second strike · first strike · deterrence · MAD · escalation · superpower · containment
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- fusionJoining into unity
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- critical massThreshold for self-sustaining reaction
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
uranium · enrichment · isotope · neutron · implosion · yield · kiloton · megaton
fallout
Post-blast atmospheric particles
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- mushroom cloudDistinctive nuclear blast formation
- blast wavePressure surge from detonation
fireball · shockwave · electromagnetic pulse · EMP · ground zero · crater · vaporization · firestorm · black rain · flash blindness
treaty
Binding pact between nations
- disarmamentReducing or eliminating weapons
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- arsenalStockpile of munitions
stockpile · test ban · SALT · START · arms control · inspection · sanctions · rogue state · Manhattan Project · Los Alamos
Hiroshima
First nuclear-struck city
- NagasakiSecond city bombed atomically
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- obliterationTotal destruction or erasure
apocalypse · catastrophe · wasteland · destruction · casualties · survivors · aftermath · desolation · ruins · incineration
mutual assured destruction
Reciprocal annihilation prevents war
- cold warHostility without open fighting
- arms raceEscalating weapons accumulation between nations
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
non-proliferation · balance of power · second strike · first strike · deterrence · MAD · escalation · superpower · containment · hotline
fission
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- fusionJoining into unity
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- critical massThreshold for self-sustaining reaction
plutonium · uranium · enrichment · isotope · neutron · implosion · yield · kiloton · megaton · subcritical
ICBM
Ocean-spanning nuclear delivery system
- warheadMunition's explosive section
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
- bomberExplosive-delivery aircraft or saboteur
submarine · payload · ballistic · cruise missile · silo · launch · reentry vehicle · Trident · B-52 · Enola Gay
- Nuclearatomic bombs, uranium, reactors, fission, fusion
- Cold War ArmsICBM, B-52, MiG, U-2, Trident missile
- radiation sourcessun, uranium, plutonium, radium, radon
- SuperweaponsWMD, doomsday device, superweapon, ICBM, Tsar Bomba
- Post-Apocalypsewasteland, fallout, survivors, apocalypse, collapse
- WWII inventionsradar, jeep, penicillin, V-2 rocket, Enigma machine
nuclear bombconventional weapon
Non-WMD military armament
TNT · dynamite · hand grenade · sword · spear
nuclear bombfirecracker
Small celebratory explosive device
cap gun · pea shooter · popgun · slingshot · BB gun
nuclear bombolive branch
Symbol of reconciliation
peace treaty · hospital · life-giving · healing · sanctuary
bomb, nuclear, nucleus, nucleate, atomic bomb, antinuclear, nucleated, nonnuclear, nuclearize