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What is the difference between nuclear and thermonuclear weapons?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Nuclear weapons' yield is derived primarily from fission.
Thermonuclear weapon's yield is derived mainly from fusion.
Thermonuclear weapons are multistage weapons -- x-rays from a nuclear primary trigger are used to trigger ablation in the pusher of the secondary to compress it, which is responsible for the fusion reaction.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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Why did superpowers develop thermonuclear weapons?
Because they could.
Does India have Nuclear Weapons?
India is not a Party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. India tested what it called a "peaceful nuclear explosive" in 1974 (which became known as "Smiling Buddha"). The test was the first test developed after the creation of the NPT, and created new questions about how civilian nuclear technology could be diverted secretly to weapons purposes (dual-use technology). Though India maintained that its nuclear capability was primarily "peaceful", it apparently weaponized two dozen nuclear weapons for delivery by air between 1988 and 1990. But it was not until 1998 that India tested weaponized nuclear warheads ("Operation Shakti"), including a thermonuclear device. And it is estimated that India has 80-100 nuclear warheads (might not be active).
What is the purpose of nuclear weapons?
nuclear warintimidationpropagandaetc.
What are the criteria for having nuclear weapons?
As far as I know nuclear weapons have never been traded between countries, so if a country has nuclear weapons it is due to their own science and technology, or to espionage activities to get the required knowledge. The other criterion is not to have signed up to the Non Proliferation Treaty, except for countries that had already developed weapons when the Treaty came into being.
What type of nuclear reaction occurs in nuclear weapons?
the nuclear kind
What is thermonuclear warfare?
Thermonuclear warfare is the use of nuclear weapons in war, either tactically or strategically. Although the term "thermonuclear" technically applies only to the process of fusion, the term is loosely applied to conflict involving fission weapons, fusion weapons, or both (informal synonyms are "atomic war" or "nuclear war").
What is the difference between nuclear weapons and normal weapons?
energy release aka yield
Who developed the term 'Thermonuclear war' and how does it differ from conventional nuclear war?
"Thermonuclear" is a term derived from the science of physics, and was not developed by any one person, to describe a type of weapon and the type of war the use of such a weapon would create. All the ready-to-fire nuclear weapons in the world today are thermonuclear weapons -- there is no difference.Therefore the type of 'war' their use would create would be no different.Also, there is no such thing as a 'conventional nuclear war'; the term makes no sense whatsoever. Conventionalmeans non-nuclear conflict (tanks, planes, men, etc.), nuclear means use of nuclear weapons. The moment a conventional war escalates to the use of nuclear weapons, it ceases to be conventional.So remember, thermonuclear war is the same as nuclear war; they do not differ.
Why are thermonuclear bombs are more disastrous than nuclear bombs?
Nuclear bombs use nuclear fission of some heavy element, usually uranium or plutonium. Thermonuclear bombs use the detonation of a fission bomb to ignite the fusion of hydrogen. Such weapons are more powerful than ordinary nuclear weapons because nuclear fusion releases more energy than nuclear fission, and because the process of fusion itself can be used to ignite more fission.
How did the western Europe use uranium?
Uranium is used as nuclear fuel in nuclear reactor.France and United Kingdom use also uranium for nuclear weapons (but today bombs are generally with plutonium or thermonuclear).
Is there a difference between an atomic bomb and a nuclear bomb?
There isn't much difference in these terms. Both refer to nuclear weapons, and they are general terms that can pretty much be used interchangeably.
What are some famous implode systems?
Some famous implode systems include but are not limited to nuclear weapon design, pure fission weapons, boosted fission weapons, two-stage thermonuclear weapons and pure fusion weapons to name some.
How do nuclear weapons differ from other weapons?
Lots more power per pound, and radioactive waste products. Most conventional weapons use chemical reactions to release energy and cause explosions. Such weapons would include those that use gun power, TNT, plastic explosives, etc. With a nuclear weapon, large amounts of energy are released through a nuclear fission (atomic bomb) or the fusion reaction between isotopes of hydrogen (thermonuclear bomb).
What is thermonuclear?
Nuclear reactions initiated by, and/or depending on heat. As a generic term, thermonuclear is an adjective describing atomic processes involving heat. This definition is necessarily vague, so in practical terms, the word thermonuclear applies specifically to weapons and power generation. Thermonuclear weapons use the heat generated in an initial nuclear fission reaction to cause a chain reaction of further fission and fusion reactions, releasing energy. Thermonuclear fusion is the proposed method for achieving nuclear fusion for power generation. The very high temperature, combined with some form of containment, causes the atomic nuclei to fuse together, releasing energy. Nuclear fusion requires a minimum level of kinetic energy in each collision before the electrostatic repulsion of nuclei is overcome, permitting them to fuse.
What is the difference between a atomic submarine and a nuclear submarine?
Nothing but the terminology. "Atomic" was the term used in the early days of nuclear weapons and nuclear power. "Nuclear" (describing the fission process of nuclear power and nuclear weapons) became the term when fusion bombs became reality, as Atomic can refer to both fission and fusion processes.
Why did superpowers develop thermonuclear weapons?
Because they could.
What are the two kinds of nuclear weapons?
I could give you a few answers Implosion design Gun-type design Or I could also say Nuclear Weapon Thermonuclear Weapon aka Atomic Bomb Hydrogen Bomb
