Why do nuclear/atomic weapons need to be detonated above their target rather than at ground level?

Answer 1

They don't need to be, but that's where they're most effective.
The blast wave spreads out in a radius from the point of origination. If detonated on the ground, buildings, hills, etc. block the blast wave and shorten the distance it can travel. If you detonate above ground, the blast wave spreads out in the air before it hits the ground, increasing the distance from "center" that will be destroyed. Aren't we good at causing destruction? :(

Answer 2

This depends on the goal of the device. An explosion is an expanding shockwave that (usually) is in a circular pattern, with a nuclear weapon the shock wave is so strong and so hot there are convection patterns created because of the relative scale of the shock wave and the force of gravity / convection heat flow, this is what gives the characteristic mushroom cloud effect even though the shockwave has come and gone LONG before.

The reason all this is important is because this spherical shockwave while only minorly hampered by buildings and the shape of the ground it IS effected. every object struck must absorb a set amount of the force of the shockwave there by slowing and distorting it's shape. if you raise the shockwave above the ground the direct shockwave hits a larger area without being distorted. a usefull analogy is this. think of it as a shadow cast by a sphere with a light behind it. everywhere the shadow touches is the point of highest impact, raise the sphere hgiher up without moving the lightsource and the sphere shadow grows in size. this analogy is not perfect but it gives you a general idea of what i mean.

Answer 3

This is debetable some time is what happen is that you get a bounce the bomb goes straight back in the air it bounces the explosion. Number two you are useing the full area of the burn if you are futher away utilization of the area. Another the high bomb idea was installed to keep the Japanese thinking about the sun actualy it could have landed on the ground but slycology says it is up in the air Japanese to keep one pondering there flag there god and the sun.

Answer 4

It depends on the target and the goal of the explosion. Others speak of the blast radius but of more immediate importance is the line of sight radiation which is quickly blocked by structures. Bear in mind heat is radiation. So more things burn from an air blast. If you want to get nasty, you denotate the bomb under water. Then radioactive water is sprayed everywhere and fallout is far ranging.

Answer 5

They do far more damage when detonated at altitude.

Answer 6

rook at da star!!