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You have asked a question that though appearing very simple has an enormously complex answer that I can only summarize here. Much of the basic info can be obtained from the book The Effects of Nuclear Weapons, edited by Samuel Gladstone, and has been reprinted in many updated editions by the US government. Some of the variables that must be considered are:
- Yield
- Burst height/depth
- Exact effect being considered (e.g. blast, thermal. radiation, fallout, EMP)
- Weather conditions
- Terrain
- Building construction
- If burst is subsurface, material around burst (e.g. dirt, rock, concrete)
- etc. etc.
Without answers to these variables no actual answers can be given. However to give some ideas, for a low yield bomb just considering prompt radiation effects they might only cover a radius of a couple hundred yards around ground zero (blast and thermal would be larger, EMP would be negligible), while for a high yield bomb exploded in the ionosphere just considering EMP effects they might cover a radius of 1000 to 2000 miles around ground zero (all other effects would be negligible).
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How many miles does a nuclear blast cover?
The extent of damage from a nuclear blast can vary greatly depending on the size of the bomb and the prevailing weather conditions. For a typical nuclear bomb, the immediate blast radius can cover several miles, while the effects of the blast, such as heat and radiation, can extend even further.
How many miles can a nuclear bomb reach?
The range of a nuclear bomb depends on its size and type. Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) carrying nuclear warheads can reach distances of up to thousands of miles. Some ICBMs have a range of over 6,000 miles.
1 big nuclear bomb how many miles would it reach?
The distance a nuclear bomb can reach depends on various factors such as the size of the bomb, the altitude at which it detonates, weather conditions, and landscape. Generally, a large nuclear bomb could have a blast radius of several miles and cause destruction over a wider area through the effects of heat, blast, and radiation.
How many square miles is the blast radius of an atom bomb?
The blast radius of an atomic bomb can vary depending on the size of the bomb and the height at which it detonates. In general, the blast radius of a nuclear bomb can extend for several miles, causing destruction within a radius of 1-5 miles or more. It can cover an area of several square miles, destroying buildings and causing severe damage within that zone.
What is the range of destruction for a nuclear bomb?
The range of destruction for a nuclear bomb depends on its size and type. A large nuclear bomb like the ones developed during the Cold War could cause destruction over several miles, while smaller tactical nuclear weapons might have a smaller range of destruction. The blast radius, thermal radiation, and nuclear fallout are all factors that contribute to the range of destruction of a nuclear bomb.
