nuclear weapon
Fission-powered explosive device
A nuclear weapon is a bomb or missile that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions—fission, fusion, or both.
The category includes atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs, and warheads mounted on intercontinental missiles.
Nuclear weapons are distinguished from conventional weapons by their capacity to destroy entire cities and produce lasting radioactive contamination: fears of nuclear war, nuclear proliferation.
Munition's explosive section
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
- ICBMOcean-spanning nuclear delivery system
- thermonuclearInvolving nuclear fusion heat
- hydrogen bombThermonuclear fusion weapon
megaton · kiloton · yield · payload · ballistic · intercontinental · cruise missile · tactical
Element ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- fissionNuclear breakup releasing energy
- fusionJoining into unity
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
critical mass · isotope · neutron · enrichment · centrifuge · radioactivity · reactor · particle physics
Energy propagation through space
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- cesiumAlkali metal, number fifty-five
- strontiumAlkaline earth element 38
- iodineAntiseptic element, atomic fifty-three
half-life · decontamination · shelter · fallout shelter · cancer · leukemia · mutation · Geiger counter
Reciprocal annihilation prevents war
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- cold warHostility without open fighting
- non-proliferationLimiting weapons spread
- arms raceEscalating weapons accumulation between nations
balance of power · first strike · second strike · escalation · superpower · treaty · disarmament · détente
warhead
Munition's explosive section
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
- ICBMOcean-spanning nuclear delivery system
- thermonuclearInvolving nuclear fusion heat
hydrogen bomb · megaton · kiloton · yield · payload · ballistic · intercontinental · cruise missile · tactical · strategic
uranium
Element ninety-two
chain reaction · critical mass · isotope · neutron · enrichment · centrifuge · radioactivity · reactor · particle physics · subatomic
radiation
Energy propagation through space
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- cesiumAlkali metal, number fifty-five
- strontiumAlkaline earth element 38
iodine · half-life · decontamination · shelter · fallout shelter · cancer · leukemia · mutation · Geiger counter · radioactive
mutual assured destruction
Reciprocal annihilation prevents war
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- cold warHostility without open fighting
- non-proliferationLimiting weapons spread
arms race · balance of power · first strike · second strike · escalation · superpower · treaty · disarmament · détente · START
- military equipmenttanks, assault rifle, missiles, grenade, submarines
- weaponsknife, gun, sword, swords, rifle
- destructive forcesearthquake, tornado, hurricane, tsunami, volcano
- Fusion Energyfusion power, fusion reactors, thermonuclear fusion, fusion reaction, fusion fuel
- warfarebattle, combat, attack, war, armed conflict
nuclear weaponconventional weapon
Non-WMD military armament
conventional arms · small arms · rifle · handgun · knife
nuclear weaponpeashooter
Tube for blowing small projectiles
BB gun · slingshot · firecracker · cap gun · popgun
nuclear weaponnuclear disarmament
Reducing atomic weapon stockpiles
disarmament · denuclearization · peace treaty · arms control · non-proliferation
weapon, nuclear, nucleus, nucleate, nuclei, nuclide, antinuclear, nonnuclear, nuclearize