Atomic Bomb vs. Hydrogen Bomb

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Difference between Atomic Bomb and Hydrogen Bomb

For most people, the atomic bomb and the hydrogen bomb are pretty much the same thing with the only difference being their relative strengths. While this is partly true–with the hydrogen bomb being considerably more powerful–both types of bombs actually have a number of differences with each other, most having to do with their construction and means of detonation. Let's take a look at their other differences and similarities.

Atomic Bomb
Hydrogen Bomb

How Do They Work?

The process that is at the heart of every atomic bomb explosion is called nuclear fission, which utilizes a certain amount of uranium 235 or plutonium 239. Nuclear fission essentially involves splitting the atoms of either of those two radioactive elements.

A hydrogen bomb for its part uses a nuclear fusion process on uranium or plutonium as well. This sets off a chain reaction which results in the release of a considerable amount of energy. In some ways, hydrogen bombs can be seen as "upgraded" versions of atomic bombs.

In Action

Atomic bombs are typically set off by an explosion from a TNT-equipped device. This causes the radioactive matter to become packed tightly together, causing the individual atoms to collide with each other with explosive force. This sets off a chain reaction with more and more atoms breaking down and releasing energy, resulting in a nuclear explosion.

The hydrogen bomb on the other hand is set off not by an explosive charge but an actual atomic bomb. The elements that form hydrogen–deuterium and tritium–are packed tightly together in a manner similar to that of the atoms in a nuclear fission reaction in an atomic bomb, causing a nuclear fusion. This produces a considerably stronger explosion.

Power

The entire nuclear fission process happens in a matter of a split-second, although the results can be pretty devastating. Anyone who has seen pictures and film footage of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan during the last days of World War II are well aware of the atomic bomb destructive force.

More powerful still is the hydrogen bomb, which is estimated to produce the explosive force of several millions of tons of TNT. These types of bobs have also been designed to expel more radioactive material into the air above the drop site. The results, as you can imagine, can be pretty destructive.

Summary

Atomic Bomb

  • Main energy source is either radioactive uranium or plutonium
  • Often triggered by a TNT-equipped explosive device
  • There is a limit to how powerful a pure atomic bomb can be

Hydrogen Bomb

  • Utilizes radioactive uranium or plutonium as a source of energy
  • Usually triggered by a small atomic bomb instead of an explosive device
  • Releases a lot more energy than a typical atomic bomb
  • There is no limit to how powerful it can be made

Atomic Bomb and Hydrogen Bomb in action

Which weapons of mass destruction world does not need?
  • Atomic Bomb
  • Hydrogen Bomb
 
 

Discuss It: comments 72

Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man, Mahatma Gandhi.

Peace without war is hard and takes many years of even harder work, peace will never come in a day but several generations of building trust with one and other. If we (the world) continue to eradicate any one who disagrees with our way of life than in the end there will be no one left.

  • Guest
  • Mike Morgan wrote on December 2012

I admire your childish naivete.

People like Gandhi who tried that approach vs. the **** died in Auschwitz and Dachau. People who tried it against Stalin died in the Gulags. Mao's descendents are still killing the Falun Gong folks. Sometimes it works against nations led by Christian people; but never against Muslims or Communists.

Sometimes you have to kill the wolf to save the sheep.

  • Guest
  • ovviamente no wrote on January 2016

(facepalm)

Yep...

  • Guest
  • Ben Shapiro wrote on September 2017

The Holocaust is a lie!

  • Guest
  • M. Roberts wrote on November 2017

You are stupid.

  • Guest
  • John wrote on January 2018

Are you that dumb?, my grandfather was on the ground fighting in WWII and I can assure you that it was all to real. One of the most horrific deeds ever done by man. The soldiers could not even believe it, until the camps were discovered.

  • Guest
  • J.R wrote on October 2018

totally agree Mike. and the Muslims will NEVER, NEVER stop until they HOPE to kill every Jew.And for that matter, EVERY SINGLE INFIDEL as well. Heck, they have no problem killing even their own children for no reason! and all because they think there are 72 virgins waiting for them? man, where on earth, or the universe, are they going to find that many virgins????????????????????????

  • Guest
  • Water wrote on November 2018

Are you serious? There are 7.6 billion people on earth. I'm certain it's possible to find 72 virgins. And even if only 1 million were left that's still quite a bit to choose from. But if you were to suggest 72 for each Muslim man then that would be another story ;)

  • Guest
  • Maverick Gomes wrote on April 2013

With war we will make peace with peace someone/thing will make war

  • Guest
  • David Deel wrote on September 2014

I wish people would/could understand that there will never be a day of non-war existance. War has been going on since very near the beginning of time. What we need to learn are two things instead of trying to vie for the impossible. 1 - when one goes to war, recognize that one side will throw all they have at the other and the to beat that side is to throw more of what you have at them. That will end the war in much less time, with much less devastation and with much less loss of life. 2 - Usually, and I mean usually, the people we are at war with fight in a manner in which they have no rules. Therfore, although we should nt follow suit with that way of thinking, we should not tolerate it to any degree. In other words, if they break the rules, have no mercy on them.

With that said, if anyone can honestly believe for a moment there will be a day of total peace and an environment where there will never be war, you just don't know the history of this wrld and of mankind. Even in the science fiction books of utopia, there are stil wars. The human brain is not one that is exactly like the other. There will always be those that destroy and always be those that love. And the in between levels are so great it is simply impossible to mathmatically solve that equation.

That is the best comment I have heard.

awsome

:)

  • Guest
  • V G wrote on August 2017

Thats a very ignorant statement. Its saying we have always had war so get used to it. Ignorance personified. Humans used to eat each other should we get used to that too? Humans enslaved each other should we accept that as right because its in our history? You know nothing about the truth of reality and your opinions are very low on the intelligence scale. I got a suggestion,... Get your head out of your ****!

you just proved him right, no two human brains are alike; so there will always be sides....NOW GET UR HEAD OUT OF UR ****!!! or maybe ur just jealous or scared of some1 who thinks different than you. is that not why humans fight and country's go to war?

  • Guest
  • John McC wrote on September 2017

If you want to live as a naiive simpleton.....go for it. Just don't make everyone else think that you have a valid point......you have a wish....nothing wrong with a wish; but solving life-or-death problems allows no space for dreamy wishes. There is no time to re-educate people into the fantasy-island aspect of humanity. Humanity is life-and-death, moment-to-moment actions which shape the very world in which we exist. Your utopian wish is a fine subject for a week's worth of community college philosophy 101 for 18 and 19 yr olds to contemplate; but stop trying to inject this childish rejection of real world situations by simply trying to smooth it over with the euphemism of "peace now" and "why don't we try to love each other" as a solution to threats by the lies of people like Kim Jung Un, who relates to hydrogen bombs like 7th graders relate to video games......get a grip, and function in the real world....it's not as comfy as dreams and wishes.....but you might actually contribute to a solution.

  • Guest
  • Katherine wrote on February 2019

Well said.

  • Guest
  • Guest wrote on March 2016

****

it does not work that way too often though..i agree with mike

eeeeeh. Everybody preaches peace when they really dont understand that peace somthing almost impossible in the world we live in. Yeh, its possible (1 in a million) but there are so many conflicting ideas in the world for everyone to get along. But if you mean general peace,like non violence,the same appllies becasue there will always be radical beliefs. In most cases in the world, WWI WWII, peace was tried first, but your can only be rational for so long. sometimes.... well, in most cases war leads to peace.. so it would be a double standard since you cant have one without the other. war was fought for countries to be free. war was fought for people to be safe. aqnd unless we live in a utopia where people dont feel natural emotions like aggitation and aggression... international peace is only a dream.

  • Guest
  • Jerry wrote on August 2016

People are natural warmongers, been at it for 10's of thousands of years, the only way for this to end is extinction...

  • Guest
  • Katherine wrote on February 2019

Nah. Not the only way.

  • Guest
  • John McC wrote on September 2017

You really have to be making fun of those of us from "Realville", or you are getting paid by the "Down with America" cult. You have just reiterated what policies have totally failed for the cause of America for over 35 years, for what "peaceniks" have refused to own up to: that their irresponsible, childish position is nowhere close to reality, nowhere close to identifying the real evil which lies in wait for people like you to become policymakers instead of off-the-wall, pie-in-the-sky dreamy fantasizers who never get the memo that there are many millions of people who want to destroy America........just to watch us die.

  • Guest
  • Joseph Sherman wrote on August 2010

There will never be peace on Earth, it is not possible for man to agree with you and listen. That statment will never be untill God and Jesus comes out of the clouds and all evil will be sent into the Lake of Fire and the rightous will go into New Paradise. If you do believe in God and are a christian. I hope you will understand this statement and agree.

But surely you must agree that Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the earth." Turning the other cheek is a commitment to checking the personal and national ego at the door and seeking harmony where possible, maybe even generating it if human hearts are open to the Spirit.

But we must, of course, remember to never let the Hitlers and Stalins of the world use negotiation and "peace talks" to lower our defenses.

The kids depend on us to stay alert on the tower. In that I agree human nature will never be what it needs to be in order to "secure lasting peace," something these international negotiation jokers cannot admit.

And with Jesus he will bring Santa and the easter bunny to help bring world peace

  • Guest
  • nita turner wrote on January 2016

i totally agree.

Blessed be the LORD my strength,

which teacheth my hands to war,

and my fingers to fight, Psalm 144

  • Guest
  • Mike Morgan wrote on December 2012

Agreed.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't try for peace. I don't think God is against peace. To say we shouldn't work for peace is ludicrous.

  • Guest
  • Katherine wrote on February 2019

Peace is something we can barely achieve for ourselves, on a micro level. How can we expect it as a collective whole? But this fixation on peace means we are robotic adherents to some overlord mentality where peace is like a lobotomy. Etherized upon the table, we finally give up warring. The goal is not some slogan of peace, but expression of humanity. We may be the last of us. What would we want the universe to know is humanity? Struggle, pain, hardship and grief are part of existence as is love, joy and simply realizing you are not the center of the universe. Instead of bemoaning what isn't, try identifying a birdsong or learn why quantum physics says the human brain is the most powerful machine on the planet. We're going to die. But while you're alive, seek some wonder, mystery, joy. Appreciate some beauty. Feel something. Give something. Take care of your precious human life.

  • Guest
  • joseph deery wrote on July 2015

We cannot hope that "god" will come and get rid of all evil we need to do it ourselves. One person can change the world. For the better or worse. We just need to make that choice… better or worse. I believe that world peace could be achieved in time and hard work alot of both.

  • Guest
  • BlazerBob wrote on September 2015

Gee (derived from Jesus, BTW), I'm not Christian, so I will go to h--- Joseph? It's people who think like you that cause wars. Notice I have no grammatical or spelling errors, then read what you wrote. Education leads to peace. Try it. Until, not until. God and Jesus come. They don't comes. And good people will be in heaven. Not just Christians. Thinking like you think causes wars.

  • Guest
  • BlazerBob wrote on September 2015

Oops, typo: until, not untill.

  • Guest
  • Bill Weber wrote on February 2016

As unfortunate as it will seem to some people Mike is 100% correct. Just for example, a farmer (sheep or whichever animal) does not attempt to tame the wolves and have new pets. The farmer shoots them, traps them or maybe poisons them. If let alive the wolf will strike at our least protected side and at the worst possible time. Example: December 7th, 1941. I also saw those mistakes, Blazer. The grammatical wanna-be "geniuses" are most often the first to make an error.

hey i hope you know religion causes the majority of wars

Religion is man made not God made. Therefore you are correct.

  • Guest
  • Reilly wrote on August 2017

WWI WWII, Korean war, Vietnam war, Iraq war, Afghanistan war...none of these were caused by religion. And these killed far more people than any so called "religious" war. Also these so called religious wars were in fact not really about religion...that was just a pious cloak for territory/loot/power and very little to do with any real religious matters.

Please tell me what school you went to, so I can ensure my kids do not get a similarly inadequate education

  • Guest
  • ray schmidt wrote on September 2017

Grammatical and spelling errors mean you have a lack of imagination.

if your one of those idiots who pray your prayers are falling on deaf ears my friend

Those ears aren't deaf, Buddy. They're imaginary.

there is also no need for such massive weapons of destrucion, for there is no point, sure one country fires at another and the country that gets fired oon in turns fires one on them, where does it end, how do you stop such madness, cause it will just keep going till one of the countrys is destroyed, and lets say that you somehow only launch 2 nukes of h-bombs, what about the nucular fallout, i agree with julie 100% that non violence is the best way to go, so my kudos to you

  • Guest
  • Mike Morgan wrote on December 2012

Two have been used since they were invented. And "Mutuially-Assured Destruction" kept the USA and USSR peaceful during the Cold War.

You're welcome.

  • Guest
  • utalix wrote on September 2012

The first nation to launch an atomic attack on another will cease to exist before the next sun rises. The world cannot not wait to negotiate a response. The response will have to be immediate, massive and atomic. It's the only way to be sure of preventing a quick follow up. Then there'll be peace without atomic weapons, for the same reason an alcoholic has to bottom out before reaching recovery... his nemesis has become too ugly to bear.

  • Guest
  • Mike Morgan wrote on December 2012

Sorry. You must mean the second nation. We were already the first. And Mutually-Assured Destruction only works if your opponent is sane. Some of the nations who now possess "nukes" may not be in that category. Many of those seeking "nukes" are definitely not.

Trying to view the film, but all I see is a message that says 'this video does not exist'!

I would just like to make a simple comment.... There was an awful lot of killing, threats and warmongering in the bible. All of it was about religion, race or inter-tribal disputes.

Almost all were justified by some kind of divine instruction to 'destroy those who oppose the ways of the Lord' or similar excuse. ...so people were asked to kill each other by God?!?

For a God who loved peace, he stirred up a lot of hatred - in his name!

  • Guest
  • Matthew Joachim wrote on August 2014

The moment the soul of the world's second man was formed, they were mutually assured destruction.

  • Guest
  • Ur mama wrote on February 2015

Morons... All of u.

  • Guest
  • Bill Weber wrote on February 2016

Please enlighten us to the truth.

  • Guest
  • Mark in Modesto wrote on July 2015

There WILL be peace on earth. It will happen when there's only one human being left on the planet. It probably won't be you or me...

So close, but you're off by one.

  • Guest
  • puddintame wrote on December 2015

kill em all let god sort em out

  • Guest
  • Mike wrote on January 2016

Sounds like y'all are trying to start the war on the Internet.

  • Guest
  • Bill Weber wrote on February 2016

I had a T-Shirt with that phrase on it. Given to me back in the 70s by a hippie! Dad lived by that code as a Marine in both Korea and 'Nam.

Okay I read the comments and listen up.

War will never end because we are made of sin. God will return for his people. That is not one side religion but one mind set. You can do nothing to earn your way to heaven. You must ask God for forgiveness and to change you from the inside. Live your life for him and do your best to help others learn about him and be saved from this evil world. War will never end because there is a war that none of us can see. God is fighting for your soul but sadly each day the devil wins. So believe or don't believe. What do I lose in the end if I try to teach others about God and believe that I will be freed from this place that is nothing but more and more evil as each year goes by. What am I losing nothing because one I'm right and die and go to heaven or two I die and nothing happens. You the people who don't believe and make fun of the believers have no chance. You are headed to **** or maybe if I'm wrong u will get luck and die and nothing happens but the continuing of time. So for all the God believing " Christian" people I understand. Oh and one last thing!!! We as Christians don't kill or start wars, we speak the truth and the ones who don't wanna listen get mad and starts war on us, why? Well let me tell you why. Because the devil is using your sin and to make you angery at us the people trying to help you find the light of God to save you from the biggest war of all. The one that will come in the end days. Read the last chapter of revelations in the king James bible and think of the world today. You will see the end is nearing and the dark prince will or is ruling over all. You will get your peace and happiness in the world for 7 years then you will know **** on earth and see the biggest most scaries war. The war to end all wars. The one where God himself will put Lucifer himself in the lake of fire.

  • Guest
  • Concerned with your ability to write in English wrote on January 2016

"listen up" what's that about.

"We as Christians don't kill or start wars, we speak the truth and the ones who don't wanna listen get mad and starts war on us, why?" Really?

  • Guest
  • Mathew wrote on March 2017

As a christian Catholic to be specific I completely agree with what Carrie seid 100 likes if I could christians do not stort wars and you don't need to be christian to see that unless you mean the war for souls unless you mean wet Hernan Cortez stopped all the sacrifices in Mexico that's 50’000 less sacrifices per year and as Catholic I don't do Ded sacrifices Catholics do a living sacrifice Jesus christ.

  • Guest
  • tim wrote on September 2017

The "Crusades"?

  • Guest
  • Landon Caeli wrote on January 2016

The Hydrogen bomb, unlike the atomic bomb, is unlimited in how powerful it can be made... Think about that.

  • Guest
  • Bmx Dave wrote on January 2016

As long as there is separatism there will be war.

We are all brothers and sisters of the human race.

I believe peace will come one day soon!

Spread the word {believe}

  • Guest
  • Glenn Reinhardt wrote on September 2017

When we're about to kill each other Jesus will come back. Not as He was before but with millions of armies of Angels to enforce the peace we should have already had. He had the word when He left; Love one another as I have loved you. We've failed miserably on all counts. It's no wonder He said, many will come in my name but don't be deceived. You think we have power. There is no power to compare to the God that made us all!

  • Guest
  • Wylie Cossar wrote on January 2016

Try telling that to the Sunnis and sheits

  • Guest
  • Glenn Reinhardt wrote on September 2017

We have already tried. They already know in whom we put our trust. All those heathens that doubt are on a non return trip to ****; but there is not one of them that today put there trust in Jesus Christ and would be saved.

  • Guest
  • Landon Caeli wrote on January 2016

BMX Dave,

The world is too large for there not to be seperatism. Even fully indoctrinated high school kids, filled with liberalism, fail to believe the same things. Even siblings can have differing philosophical and religious views.

Global Unity has never occured naturally because it cannot occur naturally on it's own. It's not supposed to -because variety is what life is about. Only by force can unity be simulated in a superficial kind of way to where it's almost believable... But is that really how we want it to happen..?

To each his own.

Peace, Landon

Speak softly and carry a big stick

Well, there's no bigger stick than a H-Bomb

  • Guest
  • Ken wrote on March 2016

These weapons should be dismantled and forbidden to be ever built.

  • Guest
  • Reilly wrote on August 2017

who is going to do the forbidding? Look at North Korea for example...it has been condemned by the United Nations, crippling sanctions slapped on it, and yet it still forges ahead.

If all bombs were dismantled then there would be a new arms race. Because if just ONE country had the bomb...it would be the new superpower and could use that to destroy any rivals. Of course the rivals are not just going to sit back and watch said country build the bomb...they are going to build it themselves. In other words the temptation to cheat and build a powerful weapon would just be too much for most countries to resist.

  • Guest
  • marty wrote on October 2016

sad Americans,i am sad to. you people should lookup agenda 21,was the law back in 92.look at executive orders,starting at 10990. if you cant see whats comeing,that makes me more sad,the bibles last prophecy is about to come true. its ok if you cant see. Pride will take a lot of ya down. Might wanta look at those walmarts to,razorwire? How can you not see? I live in ohio,sad when this little town I live in will be gone. With GODS help I will be gone to,wont be here to see the very end of it. P.S. don't take the mark[rfid chip}fear not,thats the key when your end comes REV.2-10,GOD BLESS

Meth labs too

The only thing non violence will assure is a proper "**** whipping".".

  • Guest
  • john wrote on April 2017

These weapons are needed to keep peace and god had nothing to do with anything be real would you people if their was a god we would not need them would we now if you want to see god go to children's hospital wonder around see the kids that cant go outside and play could you imagine not being able to play makes you feel guilty for being healthy and than you will wonder where is your god now lettings the innocent children suffer their is no god

  • Guest
  • Glenn Reinhardt wrote on September 2017

Do you suppose that all the throngs of people Jesus preached to on the hillsides and in the olive groves were of the same mind? No, and how many accepted his message? We don't know but there were enough to bring the Christian message to a war-torn world. When you mention that we all have a meridian of things we adopt you're correct; But let us not deride someone because of their culture and things we cling to. It doesn't matter. what does matter is for all of us to accept the message of our risen Lord. Obviously we are born to live in tents on a hillside as we watch the sheep. Or in a skyscraper in NY city. Or as a wheat farmer in Kansas. Or a culture of us who believe their women should cover most of their body in public and let their hair down when they're home with their husband. We are a group of human beings all living on this earth as it winds its way around the sun; But can't hate someone because their culture is different. God has promised to love us even that we're different. Try to meet the family that just moved into your neighborhood even if their women dress with a covering when they go out; I know I've been beating a dead horse, but get to know me and I'll try to get to know you. What more could a gracious God hope for; I'm done but I wish all of you peace and love.

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