How Fast Does A Plutonium Explosion Shockwave Travel?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

The blast wave propagates outward at

two miles per second or 7,200 miles per hour

. 1.0 second and beyond: The fireball reaches its maximum size, approximately 900 feet in diameter.

How far does the shockwave of a nuclear bomb go?

This damage may correspond to a distance of about

3 miles (4.8 km) from ground zero

for a 10 KT nuclear explosion. The damage in this area will be highly variable as shock waves rebound multiple times off of buildings, the terrain, and even the atmosphere.

How fast does a shockwave travel in mph?

It is caused by an object moving faster than sound — about

750 miles per hour

at sea level. An aircraft traveling through the atmosphere continuously produces air-pressure waves similar to the water waves caused by a ship’s bow.

How far does a shockwave travel?

Within a

6-km (3.7-mile) radius

of a 1-megaton bomb, blast waves would produce 180 metric tons of force on the walls of all two-story buildings, and wind speeds of 255 km/h (158 mph). In a 1-km (0.6-mile) radius, the peak pressure is four times that amount, and wind speeds can reach 756 km/h (470 mph).

How much PSI is lethal?

The magnitude of damage due to the blast wave depends on the peak of the initial positive-pressure wave (an overpressure of 414–552 kPa or

60–80 psi

is considered potentially lethal), the duration of the overpressure, the medium of the explosion, the distance from the incident blast wave, and the degree of focusing due …

What is the blast radius of a nuke in miles?

The initial radiation pulse from a 1 KT device could cause 50% mortality from radiation exposure, to individuals, without immediate medical intervention, within an approximate

1⁄2 mile (790 m)

radius. This radius increases to approximately 3⁄4 mile (1200m) for a 10 KT detonation.

Who nuked Japan?

In August of 1945, the United States was still fighting in World War II against the nation of Japan. Having been told about the successful Trinity Test of an atomic bomb,

President Truman

decided to drop an atomic bomb on Japan on August 6, 1945.

How far away from a nuke is safe?

Heat is the prime concern for those closer to a nuclear blast, with people

up to 6.8 miles

away suffering first-degree burns and third-degree burns hitting anyone up to 5 miles away. You’ve got to consider the immense thermal radiation too, which travels at the speed of light.

Can you survive a nuclear bomb in a fridge?

Lucas said that if the refrigerator were lead-lined, and if Indy didn’t break his neck when the fridge crashed to earth, and if he were able to get the door open, he could, in fact, survive. “

The odds of surviving that refrigerator — from a lot of scientists — are about 50-50

,” Lucas said.

Are shock waves faster than sound?

In particular,

shock waves travel faster than sound

, and their speed increases as the amplitude is raised; but the intensity of a shock wave also decreases faster than does that of a sound wave, because some of the energy of the shock wave is expended to heat the medium in which it travels.

How strong is a shockwave?

Medical shock waves are usually producing

compressive pressures up to 100 MPa (1000 bar)

that act on tissue macro level and negative/tensile pressures of up to -15 MPa (150 bar) that produce cavitation in fluids and act at the cellular micro level.

What’s the blast radius of a hydrogen bomb?

Radius:

2.7 miles

Virtually everything is destroyed between the 12 and 5 psi rings. The walls of typical multi-story buildings, including apartment buildings, have been completely blown out.

Is shock wave lithotripsy painful?

Shock wave lithotripsy is a safe treatment to get rid of kidney stones.

Passing even tiny kidney stone fragments can hurt — sometimes a lot

. If you have shock wave lithotripsy, expect to feel some discomfort as stone fragments pass in the days and weeks after treatment.

How fast do Explosions travel?

Gas explosions can either deflagrate or detonate based on confinement; detonation velocities are generally around

1600 m/s to 1800 m/s but can be as high as 3000 m/s

. Solid explosives often have detonation velocities ranging beyond 4000 m/s to 10300 m/s. Detonation velocity can be measured by the Dautriche method.

Can shock waves travel through a vacuum?

A ‘shock wave’ is the disturbance of material that’s created when a wave moves through a medium at greater than the local speed of sound. Provided there is a ‘medium’ of sufficient density through which a shock wave can travel,

there is no reason why shock waves can’t form in space

.

Are explosions physical?

Explosions are

physical phenomena

that result in the sudden release of energy; they may be chemical, nuclear, or mechanical. This process results in a near-instantaneous pressure rise above atmospheric pressure.

What is the blast radius of a 2000 lb bomb?

The fragmentation pattern and range of a 2,000lb Mk 84 bomb are difficult to predict, but it is generally said that this weapon has a ‘lethal radius’ (i.e. the distance in which it is likely to kill people in the vicinity) of

up to 360m

.

What is the most powerful explosive?


HMX

is the most powerful high explosive produced in industrial quantities today. It is a relatively insensitive, temperature-stable and safe-to-handle high explosive that makes it useful in a variety of applications both in military and civilian end products.

How many KT was Hiroshima?

On this basis of comparison, the Hiroshima bomb was of about

15 kilotons

– that is, of 15 thousand tonnes of TNT equivalent – and that at Nagasaki was of 25 kilotons (ca.

Can Russian nukes reach the US?

New START limits all Russian deployed intercontinental-range nuclear weapons, including every Russian nuclear warhead that is loaded onto an intercontinental-range ballistic missile that can reach the United States in approximately 30 minutes.

Is Hiroshima still radioactive?

Is there still radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

The radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki today is on a par with the extremely low levels of background radiation (natural radioactivity) present anywhere on Earth

. It has no effect on human bodies.

Who built first nuclear bomb?


J. Robert Oppenheimer
Doctoral advisor Max Born

Who ordered the bomb dropped on Hiroshima?


President Harry S. Truman

, warned by some of his advisers that any attempt to invade Japan would result in horrific American casualties, ordered that the new weapon be used to bring the war to a speedy end. On August 6, 1945, the American bomber Enola Gay dropped a five-ton bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

Who Authorised Hiroshima bombing?

After Japanese leaders flatly rejected the Potsdam Declaration,

President Truman

authorized use of the atomic bomb anytime after August 3, 1945. On the clear morning of August 6, the first atomic bomb, nicknamed Little Boy, was dropped on the city of Hiroshima.

What to do if a nuke is coming?
  1. Get inside the nearest building to avoid radiation. …
  2. Remove contaminated clothing and wipe off or wash unprotected skin if you were outside after the fallout arrived. …
  3. Go to the basement or middle of the building. …
  4. Stay inside for 24 hours unless local authorities provide other instructions.

Would Ireland survive a nuclear war?


Dublin would cease to exist

, casualties would be horrendous and, depending on wind direction, radioactive fallout could spread across the entire country. A ten-megaton bomb was the equivalent of ten million tons of TNT. The weapon dropped on Hiroshima was, by contrast, a mere fifteen kilotons.

Can the UK stop a nuclear missile?

The Government has said

the UK’s nuclear deterrent is operationally independent

. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also the only person who can authorise the use of our nuclear weapons, even if deployed as part of a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) response.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.