The fraction of a bomb's yield emitted as thermal radiation, blast, and ionizing radiation are essentially constant for all yields, but the way the different forms of energy interact with air and targets vary dramatically.Īir is essentially transparent to thermal radiation. The underlying principles behind these scaling laws are easy to explain. This is based on thermal radiation just sufficient to cause 3rd degree burns (8 calories/cm^2) a 4.6 psi blast overpressure (and optimum burst height) and a 500 rem radiation dose. If Y is in multiples (or fractions) of 2.5 kt, then the result is in km (and all the constants equal one). The equations below provide approximate scaling laws for relating the destructive radius of each effect with yield: All are capable of inflicting fatal injuries at a range of 1 km. With an explosive yield of about 2.5 kt, the three effects are roughly equal. At low yields, all three can be significant sources of injury. Their relative importance varies with the yield of the bomb. The three categories of immediate effects are: blast, thermal radiation (heat), and prompt ionizing or nuclear radiation. The radioactive decay of fallout releases an additional 5-10% over time. The distribution of energy released in the first minute after detonation among the three damage causing effects is: These two classes of effects are treated in separate subsections. The delayed effects (radioactive fallout and other possible environmental effects) inflict damage over an extended period ranging from hours to centuries, and can cause adverse effects in locations very distant from the site of the detonation. Immediate effects (blast, thermal radiation, prompt ionizing radiation) are produced and cause significant destruction within seconds or minutes of a nuclear detonation. Nuclear explosions produce both immediate and delayed destructive effects. #NUCLEAR TIME DELAY UNTIL BOMB GOES OFF ARCHIVE#The only authorized host site for the NWFAQ in English is the Nuclear Weapon Archive (">) Back to Main Index 5.0 Effects of Nuclear Explosions Unauthorized host sites are expressly forbidden. Only authorized host sites may make this document publicly available on the Internet through the World Wide Web, anonymous FTP, or This material may be excerpted, quoted, or distributed freely provided that attribution to the author (Carey Sublette), theĭocument name (Nuclear Weapons Frequently Asked Questions) and this copyright notice is clearly preserved, and the URL of this website is included: Effects of Nuclear Explosions Section 5.0 Effects of Nuclear Explosions Nuclear Weapons Frequently Asked Questions
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