How do you make an atom bomb?

Answer 1

ROFL! I love it...

Actually for a uranium bomb the description in 'The fourth protocol' is not bad, but I suspect that the description of the pit is wrong. If I were trying it I would use a Deuterium/Tritium filled neutron tube of the coax arc variety. A powerful alpha source would be required for the neutron source described in that book, and there are easier ways to get there....

For a plutonium bomb, you need an implosion based design as one of the isotopes of plutonium (240?) is prone to cause the thing to go prompt critical too early in a gun design and all you get is a KT or so of fizzle.

The math here is scary hard spherical geometry and according to the descriptions in the civilian literature, machining the explosive lens is a pig. I do wonder about the viability of using precisely cut lengths of det cord in place of the exploding wires and transmission lines. Does anyone have a handle on the required timing accuracy?

BTW: Watch out when machining the PU, it has a load of allotrope's with different densities, alloy it with something to cut down on that source of pain, also uranium is pyroporic, work with an oxide or alloy again.

Note: Everything above is in the civilian literature, most of which is available from borders books or amazon, sourcing the highly enriched uranium is the difficult bit for a gun type device, which is why all the major powers have gone to plutonium bombs, but there the implosion physics becomes the challenge!

There is nothing here that a visit to a decent library wouldn't get you.

Relax, you lot, there is nothing here that school physics doesn't teach, and none of this is exactly classified (The real design of the pit is, so I am guessing).

Answer 2

Serious answer:

You dont really have to take atoms and smash them together to create an explosion. Radioactivity occurs in nature. If you take a few radioactive atoms, they will all split over time releasing energy and some smaller particles that can set off radioactivity in otherwise normal atoms.

Now the trick to creating a bomb is to create what is called a "sustained reaction" that is you need enough radioactive material in one place and thats it. It would start as one innocent fission and that would trigger more fission and that in turn would trigger more.. in an uncontrolled chain reaction that releases tremendous amounts of energy causing extensive damage.

The amount of material sufficient to start a "sustained reaction" is called the critical mass. For example the amount of uranium-233 required to sustain a reaction is 15 kg.

most atomic weapons have within them, a critical mass of a radioactive material , but split into parts so that each part is below the critical mass. so no explosion takes place. After deployment, the peices are jammed together either by a local explosive or some mechanical arrangement to obtain critical mass , and ka-boom.

Now the problem with making a home made atom bomb is obtaining enough radioactive material, the production, sale and distribution of which is strictly regulated by governments that have access to the technology to manufacture/purify these materials.

disclaimer: No the stuff that I talked about is not enough for someone to construct an atom/nuclear bomb. what is missing and is very essential is a technique to purify a radioactive material to the purity required in the required quantities. well good luck with that

Answer 3

It's really difficult, because if you lose the atom it is a b*gger getting on your hands and knees trying to find it among all that fluff.

Best leave it to the experts.

However, if you want to know How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, U2 have written something about this - head off to HMV and by the CD. It's worth it.

Answer 4

take one oil can and cut in half lengthwise.
In one half, place 6 equidistant atoms.
in the other half place 6 very sharp axes, on an axel but restrained by a rubber band per axe.
Take a length of sharp metal and orientate along the rubber bands and out thru a hole drilled in one end. To this attach a long piece of string.
Carefully (very carefully, mind) weld the two halves together.
Pick up the string and walk as far away as the string is long, until it is nearly taut.
Pull very hard.
The atoms will be split.
Big badda boom as Leelu said.

Answer 5

Is that not when you fire a proton at the nucleus of a Uranium atom....No, that Nucleur Fission.

If you do get round to it, by very careful, as it leaves a dang of a stain on your lab coat

You need to find one of the following:
1) A Megalomatic Evil Genius (I am not available just now, I am busy, top secret project I am advising on involving time travel to incapacate a government agent in the 1960s era).
2) A tyranical leader in the middle east
3) A Governmental Nucleur Arms Scientist

Best of luck in your staff recruiting

Answer 6

Google - Atom Bomb Kit...

Answer 7

Put the atom inside a Ferrari Formula I on the Le Mans circuit. It sure as hell will bomb along. Especially if Michael Schumacher is driving!

Answer 8

The project will cost between $5000 and $30000, probably your life too, depending on how fancy you want the final product to be. The device basically works when the detonated TNT compresses the Plutonium into a critical mass. The critical mass then produces a nuclear chain recation similar to the domino chain reaction. The chain reaction then promptly produces a massive thermonuclear reaction.

First, obtain about 50 pounds (110 kg) of weapons grade Plutonium at your local supplier. A nuclear power plant is not recommended, as large quantities of missing Plutonium tends to make plant engineers unhappy. I strongly suggest that you contact your local terrorist organization, or perhaps the Junior Achievement in your neighborhood.

Please remember that Plutonium, especially pure, refined Plutonium, is somewhat dangerous. Wash your hands with soap and warm water after handling the material, and don't allow your children or pets to play in it or eat it. Any left over Plutonium dust is excellent as an insect repellant.

You may wish to keep the substance in a lead box if you can find one in your local junk yard, but an old coffee can will do nicely.

Fashion together a metal enclosure to house the device. Most common varieties of sheet metal can be bent to disguise this enclosure as, for example, a briefcase, a lunch pail, or a Buick. Do not use tinfoil.

Arrange the Plutonium into two hemispheral shapes, separated by about 4 cm. Use rubber cement to hold the Plutonium dust together.

Now get about 100 pounds (220 kg) of trinitrotoluene (TNT). Gelignite is much better, but messier to work with. Your helpful hardware man will be happy to provide you with this item.

Pack the TNT around the hemisphere arrangement constructed in step 4. If you cannot find Gelignite, fell free to use TNT packed in with Playdo or any modeling clay. Colored clay is acceptable, but there is no need to get fancy at this point.

Enclose the structure from step 6 into the enclosure made in step 3. Use a strong glue such as "Crazy Glue" to bind the hemisphere arrangement against the enclosure to prevent accidental detonation which might result from vibration or mishandling.

To detonate the device, obtain a radio controlled (RC) servo mechanism, as found in RC model airplanes and cars. With a modicum of effort, a remote plunger can be made that will strike a detonator cap to effect a small explosion. These detonatior caps can be found in the electrical supply section of your local supermarket. We recommend the "Blast-O-Mactic" brand because they are no deposit-no return.

Now hide the completed device from the neighbors and children. The garage is not recommended because of high humidity and the extreme range of temperatures experienced there. Nuclear devices have been known to spontaneously detonate in these unstable conditions. The hall closet or under the kitchen sink will be perfectly suitable.

Now you are the proud owner of a working thermonuclear device! It is a great ice-breaker at parties, and in a pinch, can be used for national defense.

I strongly suggest you run as hell when you detonate it. And there you have it, a 10 megaton explosion!

Answer 9

Easy to understand. For an example you are Nuclear bomb and your gf is Atom bomb. and both call with different names.

Answer 10

you first need several kilograms of enriched radiocative material, the exact amount will depend on several months of the most complicated math ever. then construct your pile of uranium into a PERFECT sphere. enclose it with high quality explosive evenly, very difficult but a soccerball pattern seems to work. from there rig up a detonator on each of the sections of the sphere so that they will all detonate at the EXACT same time using a complicated circuitry and computer detonation. also to conform with hollywood atom bomb standards, have a countdown display in large red letters, also helpful if you want to survive the blast and have time to get away.

really not that hard as long as you have access to the material, have advanced degrees in nuclear engineering and physics, as well as a team of scientists with the same knowlege, several years to construct and test, and the location/money to do it with.
yes. quite simple.