answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

the tests in the marshal islands gave reason to believe that the damage is irreversable but after 50 years the coral reefs are beguining to revive again.

Overall though it depends on the half-life of the fission-materials being used to produce the detonation of the bomb, the primary isotope which is usually used in the production of Nuclear-Weapons (From what I read) is Plutonium-239 which has a half-life of 24,000 years. So they can probably linger as long as any radiation from a Nuclear-Power-Plant meltdown!!!

It takes very little Plutonium or Uranium to make a nuclear weapon and a significant fraction of this is consumed in the detonation. Both Plutonium and Uranium, though they have long half-lives present minor radiation hazards (except in the form of inhalable dust) as they are alpha emitters and can be completely shielded by one sheet of paper or the outer layer of dead cells making up your skin.

The worst radiation hazard is the fission products that emit gamma radiation. But their half-lives vary from 8 days to 40 years. They will all be effectively gone in about 200 years.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How long after a nuclear explosion will the radiation linger?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Physics

What radiation is given off by a nuclear bomb?

prompt (at time of explosion) - neutron, gamma, x-ray, UV, visible, thermal (IR), some radio.delayed (fallout) - beta, gamma, some alpha.Types of radiation called "ionizing radiation" - alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, neutron.


Is there any chance of a nuclear explosion from a nuclear power plant?

No. There is no possibility whatsoever of a nuclear power plant having a nuclear explosion. It is not physically, or even theoretically, possible for the core to be brought into a super-prompt critical geometry and held there long enough to consume enough fuel to "go nuclear".


What is a nuclear explosion?

Nuclear explosion is a dangerous nuclear device that frees nuclear energy. A Nuclear explosion is a uncontrolled explosion that is a result of a collision of molecules that split apart the atom on the molecular level and emits electrons, protons and gamma radiation and causes a chain reaction as these particles collide with more atoms. This produces extreme temperature levels and shock waves. The gamma radition disappates away from the explosion and also is absorbed into the debris and smoke particles and this will travel with the wind to carry the radiation for many miles. This is called "fall out" as the particles will fall to earth and expose everything to deadly radiation levels. If the nuclear explsion is denoted under the ground on in Space the effects are different. In space, there is no atmosphere to transmit the heat and shock waves so most of the engery is dissapted in electrons and radiation. The protons/electrons will travel out and contact the earth's upper atmosphere over an area the size of the United States. The result of this collosion will be an electronic pulse that is transmitted to the earth. This Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) will travel to the surface of the earth and damage or disable most electronic devices that are not protected. This protection is similar to lightning protection but it has to be covering the device from all exposure. The EMP will also impinge on long unprotected wires and transmite an electrical spike down the wire and can damage whatever device is on the other end.


Is nuclear reaction good or bad?

nuclear reaction are bad because it kill people who live near by, it can cause long term effect on the people who live for a nuclear explosion and it can be bad for environment too!


Can radiation travel through a liquid?

it depends on the type of radiation alpha ((type of)nuclear radiation) can't travel through it for very long Infra red (heat) can but is absorbed by the particles in the water as it goes

Related questions

What is the difference between a bomb and an nuclear bomb?

Basically, a conventional bomb uses a chemical explosive as the source of its destructive power. A nuclear weapon uses nuclear material to create an explosion. A nuclear explosion is much larger, and also emits ionizing radiation. A chemical weapon does not emit any radiation. A nuclear weapon's yield is measured in Kilotons (thousand tons). In very simplified terms, this means that a nuclear weapon with a 475 kiloton yield produces an explosion comparable to 475,000 tons of TNT (TNT is a chemical explosive). That's A LOT of TNT and it would take up a bit of space. A nuclear weapon with this yield may only be a few feet long and a foot wide, and the actual nuclear material may be the size of a grapefruit.


What radiation is given off by a nuclear bomb?

prompt (at time of explosion) - neutron, gamma, x-ray, UV, visible, thermal (IR), some radio.delayed (fallout) - beta, gamma, some alpha.Types of radiation called "ionizing radiation" - alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, neutron.


Why used nuclear bombs at war time?

They're very destructive and last for a long time, In other words, once you've blown up a nuclear bomb somewhere, it will still be dangerous after the initial explosion has taken place. When a nuclear bomb is used there would be nuclear radiation that would still be present where the bomb hit for quite a while


Is there any chance of a nuclear explosion from a nuclear power plant?

No. There is no possibility whatsoever of a nuclear power plant having a nuclear explosion. It is not physically, or even theoretically, possible for the core to be brought into a super-prompt critical geometry and held there long enough to consume enough fuel to "go nuclear".


What kills people in a nuclear explosion?

Most people are killed by the blast and heat as in conventional explosions. However the radioactivity adds both immediate and long term deaths (e.g. radiation poisoning, cancers). Radioactive fallout can produce deaths many hundreds of miles away from the explosion itself.


Causes the greatest damage in explosion?

Nuclear weapons cause the greatest damage in explosion. This will affect even the atmosphere for a very long period of time.


What is the most famous nuclear disaster in Europe?

The most famous Nuclear disaster in Europe was the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Disaster in Ukraine. Nuclear radiation from an explosion in one of the four reactors leaked into the surrounding area and the near by city of Pripyat. Over 50,000 people had to be evacuated. 50 workers and firemen were killed and thousands of others died of cancers related with being exposed to the radiation from the disaster. Chernobyl and Pripyat are still heavily radioactive today and can still cause nuclear mutations if exposed for to long.


What is a nuclear explosion?

Nuclear explosion is a dangerous nuclear device that frees nuclear energy. A Nuclear explosion is a uncontrolled explosion that is a result of a collision of molecules that split apart the atom on the molecular level and emits electrons, protons and gamma radiation and causes a chain reaction as these particles collide with more atoms. This produces extreme temperature levels and shock waves. The gamma radition disappates away from the explosion and also is absorbed into the debris and smoke particles and this will travel with the wind to carry the radiation for many miles. This is called "fall out" as the particles will fall to earth and expose everything to deadly radiation levels. If the nuclear explsion is denoted under the ground on in Space the effects are different. In space, there is no atmosphere to transmit the heat and shock waves so most of the engery is dissapted in electrons and radiation. The protons/electrons will travel out and contact the earth's upper atmosphere over an area the size of the United States. The result of this collosion will be an electronic pulse that is transmitted to the earth. This Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) will travel to the surface of the earth and damage or disable most electronic devices that are not protected. This protection is similar to lightning protection but it has to be covering the device from all exposure. The EMP will also impinge on long unprotected wires and transmite an electrical spike down the wire and can damage whatever device is on the other end.


Radiation is one of the long-term effects of a nuclear detonation what type of radiation is emitted only during the detonation?

AlphaBetaGammaX-RayNeutronUVBUVAVisible lightIRMicrowavesMore or less some of everything.


Is nuclear reaction good or bad?

nuclear reaction are bad because it kill people who live near by, it can cause long term effect on the people who live for a nuclear explosion and it can be bad for environment too!


Why are Nuclear bombs mass murder?

Nuclear bombs can murder hundreds of thousands of people in a dense urban area because the explosion is so voluminous and hot. Most people that die in the general area of the explosion are simply burned to ash because of the intense heat. Further away from the epicenter, heat dissipates somewhat, so death tends to come from incomplete burning, destruction of property from impact and heat waves, and radiation sickness. The radiation also has a long term effect of making the area dangerous for several years and can sometimes not manifest in disease for decades.


Did more people die from the explosion or the after affects of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Most were killed from the explosion, some survived but may have short term or long term radiation illness which can be terminal.