The Jericho Television show had the magnetic pulse happening several days after the initial blast. This just doesn't seem right to me.
2006-10-29 20:33:23 · 7 answers · asked by sn000dle 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I'd think it would happen with the speed of light, immediately.
Here is something you might like, it shows the blast radius of different size nukes.
http://www.fas.org/main/content.jsp?formAction=297&contentId=367
2006-10-29 20:37:01 · answer #1 · answered by Sean 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The time to generate the EMP would be the time the gamma radiation strikes the upper atmosphere for the blast. So the closer to the atmosphere, the faster the EMP will be generated.
Compton Scattering of the gamma rays generated in the blast causes the EMP. This generates lower wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. The majority of the power will be below 30 MHz. In order for the EMP device to be an effective weapon the blast must be above 100,000 feet.
2006-10-31 06:36:01 · answer #2 · answered by positive_alpha_t 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Watch the show again.
When someone (Johnston?) first mentioned the EMP, someone else (Gail?) immediately asks does that mean there was another hit.
I believe that was the intended suggestion - and the reason why the town folk then see the just-launched ICBMs.
We'll find out, I suppose - but I believe they are saying there was another attack, that these came from a source that could be identified (and that, of course, there was adequate command-and-control remaining after the first blasts to counterstrike).
Also note that by the time of the last episode, several weeks are already supposed to have passed, by caption at the start of the episodes and by conversation references.
2006-10-31 12:41:59 · answer #3 · answered by TJ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard about EMP effects of a nuclear blast many times haven't heard anyone refute it. Sounds like it should happen immediately though. That's an interesting link by the way - except it only goes to 4megatons. The largest bomb made (that I know) was 57 megatons.
2006-10-29 20:46:37 · answer #4 · answered by Enrique C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is caused by the distortion in the magnetic field of the earth by the blast wave, and its return to normal. It is on the order of minutes.
2006-10-29 20:48:07 · answer #5 · answered by meg 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The radiation emitted by the nuclear reaction IS the electromagnetic pulse.
2006-10-29 20:52:04 · answer #6 · answered by Helmut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
r u sure there even is one, i think itd b grounded out... by the ground...
2006-10-29 20:41:23 · answer #7 · answered by hugh r 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋