I've always wondered what makes nuclear explosions bigger or smaller, or how they make sure it doesn't blow up the whole world. Any answers would be appreciated.
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The same way you control a 600 lb gorilla...very carefully.
The size and content of the so-called physics package determines the yield potential. If the physics package contains no deuterium (D2) or tritium (T3) booster, the yield will be fission made only. And fission based explosions are inherently of less yield than fusion explosions, where some combination of D2 and T3 is present in the package.
Typical fission weapons are found in the 10 to 20 KT range. For these, the size of the fissionable materials and some design techniques determine what the yields will be.
Fusion bombs will be much larger yields in general. The U.S. uses 250KT as a standard fusion bomb yield. The former Soviet Union went in for about 1 MT per warhead. But in this case, each fusion weapon is initiated by a small fission bomb that sets the fusion into reacting. Again designs and the amount of fusionable material determine the yield.
The Tsar's Bomb was 50 MT and was the largest nuclear explosion ever set off. It was not a bomb, but a device despite its name.
The size and content of the so-called physics package determines the yield potential. If the physics package contains no deuterium (D2) or tritium (T3) booster, the yield will be fission made only. And fission based explosions are inherently of less yield than fusion explosions, where some combination of D2 and T3 is present in the package.
Typical fission weapons are found in the 10 to 20 KT range. For these, the size of the fissionable materials and some design techniques determine what the yields will be.
Fusion bombs will be much larger yields in general. The U.S. uses 250KT as a standard fusion bomb yield. The former Soviet Union went in for about 1 MT per warhead. But in this case, each fusion weapon is initiated by a small fission bomb that sets the fusion into reacting. Again designs and the amount of fusionable material determine the yield.
The Tsar's Bomb was 50 MT and was the largest nuclear explosion ever set off. It was not a bomb, but a device despite its name.
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Each device has only a certain amount of nuclear material in it. The more material, the bigger the explosion.