What is the difference between an atom bomb and a hydrogen bomb?

Answer 1

Atomic bomb__________________________________________
An atom bomb is the reaction of fission of heavy nuclide(element) such as Plutonium and Uranium. Fission is the process of disintegration of heavy nuclide to lighter one to achieve stability. During the process, the energy is released as thermal and kinetic energy.

Let say A ~> B + 3n + energy
where A=the unstable atom (called parent nuclide)
B=the stable atom (called daughter nuclide)
n= neutron produced as by product (3n is only average)

The neutrons can induced disintegration of another atom
n + C ~> C unstable
C unstable ~> D + 3n + energy

So, u see, this rection is a chain reaction.

Another example is nuclear reactor. But in a nuclear reactor, the process is being control by manipulating the control rod made of carbon(or boron) to absorb the neutrons released during disintegration. Thus, we can slow down the reaction.

But in atomic bomb, the reaction is intentionally uncontrolled so that the disintegration rate would increase, thus increasing the energy released. The energy released is what we see as a gigantic explosion.(Becoz its energy is expanding so rapidly)

Do u remember the Chernobyl catastrophy. During that accident, the fission reaction was uncontrolled because the operator carelessly forgot to brought down the control rod. So the reactor became hot and finally exploded. The reaction is similar to atomic bomb but on a smaller scale.



Hydrogen bomb________________________________________
If the atomic bomb uses fission technique, the hydrogen uses the fusion reaction. Fusion reaction is the process of combining the lighter element to form heavier element. (opposite to fussion)
But similar to fussion, it also release a lot of energy during the process. The light element that i mentioned is hidrogen.

H + H ~> He + energy

This technology required a lot of energy to combine the atoms. Usually we use laser to provide energy to make the atoms collide each other. But in the case of hydrogen bomb, we use small atomic bomb to give sufficient energy for the atoms to combine.

Until todays, no hydrogen bomb was used by any nations. But the Soviet and US have unofficially used it during test. Hydrogen bomb provide greater power that the atomic bomb. Hydrogen bomb need a very advanced technology to acquire it.

Another example of fusion reaction is the sun. The sunlight is actually the energy released during fusion reaction.

The hydrogen bomb is described as cleaner that the atomic bomb. Becoz atomic bomb will produce radioactive waste. And becoz of this characteristic, many countries opt to use it in the future. note that there is no nuclear reactor that used fusion reaction since it need a very high energy that even can easily vaporized metal.

Answer 2

A hydrogen bomb is TECHNICALLY an atom bomb. An atom bomb is a nuclear device that will either bombard an atom's nucleus with a neutron to split it or collide 2 light atoms to fuse them. A hydrogen bomb, however, collides 2 hydrogen atoms and releases the energy in an explosion (by-product: helium)

Answer 3

An atom bomb is bomb that uses the process of atomic fission to release tremendous amount of energy that can destroy anything on its way. A hydrogen bomb is also an atom bomb but it only uses hydrogen instead of plutonium etc.

Answer 4

Basically, an atom bomb splits apart uranium atoms, creating nuclear fission. A hydrogen bomb fuses two hydrogen isotopes together. But it takes the effects of an atom bomb to produce the environment needed for nuclear fusion (thermonuclear explosion). Essentially, for an instant, it creates the environment existing at the center of our sun.

Hydrogen bombs are much more powerful, obviously. For a list of yields, check wikipedia...

Answer 5

Hydrogen bombs use nuclear fusion to fuse hydrogen atoms together, creating helium and releaseing huge amounts of energy.
Atomic bombs use nuclear fission to split uranium or plutonium atoms to release energy.

The hydrogen bomb is a million times stronger than the atomic bomb.

Answer 6

Similarities Between Fusion And Fission

Answer 7

yes hydrogen is five time powerful than atom bomb

Answer 8

atom bomb purely uses nuclear fission reactions wheras hydrogen bomb uses a combination of both fusion and fission reactions.

Answer 9

atom bombs use nuclear fission, H-bombs use nuclear fusion