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A '''nuclear weapon''' is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reaction nuclear reactions], either fission or a combination of fission and [[fusion]]. Both [[reactions]] release vast [[quantities]] of [[energy]] from [[relatively]] small amounts of [[matter]]. The first fission ("'''atomic  bomb'''") test released the same amount of [[energy]] as approximately [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TNT_equivalent 20,000 tons of TNT]. The first thermonuclear ("hydrogen") bomb test released the same amount of energy as approximately 10,000,000 tons of TNT.[1]

A '''nuclear weapon''' is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reaction nuclear reactions], either fission or a combination of fission and [[fusion]]. Both [[reactions]] release vast [[quantities]] of [[energy]] from [[relatively]] small amounts of [[matter]]. The first fission ("'''atomic  bomb'''") test released the same amount of [[energy]] as approximately [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TNT_equivalent 20,000 tons of TNT]. The first thermonuclear ("hydrogen") bomb test released the same amount of energy as approximately 10,000,000 tons of TNT.[1]

A [[modern]] thermonuclear [[weapon]] weighing little more than 2,400 pounds (1,100 kg) can produce an explosive [[force]] comparable to the detonation of more than 1.2 million tons (1.1 million metric tons) of TNT. Thus, even a small nuclear device no larger than traditional bombs can devastate an entire [[city]] by blast, [[fire]] and [[radiation]]. Nuclear weapons are considered [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons_of_mass_destruction weapons of mass destruction], and their use and [[control]] has been a major [[focus]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_relations international relations] [[policy]] since their debut.

A [[modern]] thermonuclear [[weapon]] weighing little more than 2,400 pounds (1,100 kg) can produce an explosive [[force]] comparable to the detonation of more than 1.2 million tons (1.1 million metric tons) of TNT. Thus, even a small nuclear device no larger than traditional bombs can devastate an entire [[city]] by blast, [[fire]] and [[radiation]]. Nuclear weapons are considered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons_of_mass_destruction weapons of mass destruction], and their use and [[control]] has been a major [[focus]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_relations international relations] [[policy]] since their debut.

Only two nuclear weapons have been used in the course of [[warfare]], both by the United States near the end of [[World War II]]. On 6 August 1945, a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium uranium] gun-type device code-named "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boy Little Boy]" was detonated over the Japanese [[city]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshima Hiroshima]. Three days later, on 9 August, a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutonium plutonium] implosion-type device code-named "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Man Fat Man]" was exploded over [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasaki,_Japan Nagasaki, Japan]. These two bombings resulted in the deaths of approximately 200,000 Japanese people—mostly civilians—from acute [[injuries]] sustained from the explosions. The role of the bombings in Japan's [[surrender]], and their [[ethical]] status, remain the subject of scholarly and popular [[debate]].

Only two nuclear weapons have been used in the course of [[warfare]], both by the United States near the end of [[World War II]]. On 6 August 1945, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium uranium] gun-type device code-named "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boy Little Boy]" was detonated over the Japanese [[city]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshima Hiroshima]. Three days later, on 9 August, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutonium plutonium] implosion-type device code-named "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Man Fat Man]" was exploded over [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasaki,_Japan Nagasaki, Japan]. These two bombings resulted in the deaths of approximately 200,000 Japanese people—mostly civilians—from acute [[injuries]] sustained from the explosions. The role of the bombings in Japan's [[surrender]], and their [[ethical]] status, remain the subject of scholarly and popular [[debate]].

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of the '''''Atom Bomb''''' (Nuclear Weapons), follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Atom_Bomb '''''this link'''''].</center>

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of the '''''Atom Bomb''''' (Nuclear Weapons), follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Atom_Bomb '''''this link'''''].</center>

Since the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear weapons have been detonated on over two thousand occasions for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapons_testing testing purposes] and [[demonstrations]]. Only a few nations possess such weapons or are suspected of seeking them. The only countries known to have detonated nuclear weapons—and that acknowledge possessing such weapons—are (chronologically by date of first test) the United States, the Soviet Union (succeeded as a nuclear power by Russia), the United Kingdom, France, the People's Republic of China, India, Pakistan, and North Korea. In addition, Israel is also widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, though it does not acknowledge having them. One state, South Africa, has admitted to having previous fabricated nuclear weapons in the past, but has since disassembled their arsenal and submitted to international safeguards.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom_bomb]

Since the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear weapons have been detonated on over two thousand occasions for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapons_testing testing purposes] and [[demonstrations]]. Only a few nations possess such weapons or are suspected of seeking them. The only countries known to have detonated nuclear weapons—and that acknowledge possessing such weapons—are (chronologically by date of first test) the United States, the Soviet Union (succeeded as a nuclear power by Russia), the United Kingdom, France, the People's Republic of China, India, Pakistan, and North Korea. In addition, Israel is also widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, though it does not acknowledge having them. One state, South Africa, has admitted to having previous fabricated nuclear weapons in the past, but has since disassembled their arsenal and submitted to international safeguards.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom_bomb]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]