2006-08-30 08:47:00 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The first atomic bomb used Plutonium and was tested at the trinity site out in the desert.
The second bomb used Uranium and was detonated over Hiroshima. The Third bomb, detonated over Nagasaki, used Plutonium as its nuclear material.
2006-08-30 09:17:52 · answer #1 · answered by mrjeffy321 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both bombs were a type of experiment. Although the Trinity test in July 1944 proved that it COULD work, the Uranium and Plutonium bombs were unproven as 'bombs'. That is, carried by a plane, to a destination, dropped, and explode.
Once proven, it became a baseline for future atomic bomb development (such as the bikini atoll tests in 1946)
2006-08-30 08:59:24 · answer #2 · answered by words_smith_4u 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the early days of the atomic progam, processing the material was the big bottleneck, and time was critical. As a result, efforts to refine uranium and plutonium were undoubtedly run in parallel.
-T
2006-08-30 09:08:57 · answer #3 · answered by tomz17 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At that time there was only enough uranium for one bomb; ditto for plutonium.
If Japan had not surrendered then, we were not in a position to explode another atom bomb for a while.
2006-08-30 08:56:16 · answer #4 · answered by williamh772 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See: Wikipedia: Nuclear Fission.
The Plutonium that was used was a "stronger" radioisotope, and was better material to make a bomb with.
2006-08-30 08:54:27 · answer #5 · answered by victorb81 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It takes significantly less plutonium to make a bomb
2006-08-30 11:48:51 · answer #6 · answered by dsldragon2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Little Boy" and "Fat Man" were experimental when they were drop to Japan. Maybe, the Americans were testing the difference of uranium and plutonium.
2006-08-30 09:01:38 · answer #7 · answered by wereman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They ran out of uranium.
Doug
2006-08-30 08:55:19 · answer #8 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A bigger bang.
2006-08-30 08:52:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋