How an Atomic Bomb Works

Before looking at how atomic bombs work, we first have to understand two relative things. First is nuclear fission. This is the process whereby an atom is split into two smaller components. The other one is nuclear fusion, whereby you bring two smaller atoms into one component. Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion are the two forces that hold the nucleus of an atom. Whenever these two processes occur, large amount of energy is released. By the way, the nucleus is the center of an atom.

For it to work, there must be a nuclear reaction using the isotopes of either uranium or plutonium. These isotopes have heavy nuclei so when they are bombarded with a neutron they break apart causing nuclear fission. The chain reaction occurs when a nuclei breaks apart bombards another nuclei and so on.

Thus, the fission that occurred can release terrible amounts of energy. An atomic bomb is more than a million times more powerful than regular TNT. The first atomic bomb was created in the United States through the Manhattan Project that came out with Little Boy and Fat Man. These were the atomic bombs that were dropped in Hiroshima during the World War II.