Nuclear explosion

A nuclear explosion (nuclear detonation) has occurred:

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• twice using a nuclear weapon during war (during World War II, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki)
• about 2,000 times during testing of nuclear weapons
• 27 times in a series of tests of nuclear explosives for construction purposes; see Operation Plowshare

Potential other applications (not yet applied, or the idea was considered but abandoned):

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• nuclear pulse propulsion, including using a nuclear explosion as asteroid deflection strategy.
• fusion power; see PACER

Nuclear explosions are associated with "mushroom clouds" although mushroom clouds can occur with ground based chemical explosions and it is possible to have an air burst nuclear explosion without these clouds. Nuclear explosions produce large amounts of radiation and radioactive materials.

Related Topics:
Mushroom cloud - Radiation - Radioactive

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A fizzle occurs if the nuclear chain reaction is not sustained long enough to cause an explosion. This can happen if, for example, the yield of the fissile material used is too low, the compression explosives around fissile material misfire or the neutron initiator fails.

Related Topics:
Nuclear chain reaction - Fissile - Neutron initiator

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Nuclear explosion: Effects of a nuclear explosion ►