Does it matter that there is virtually no oxygen or air pressure?
Please include links to studies/pictures/videos.
2007-03-08 00:37:51 · 7 answers · asked by P D 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It would make a perfect sphere that would expand quite rapidly. No Oxygen wouldn't matter since it's a fission (or fusion) reaction, not oxidation.
With no atmosphere, it would simply expand more rapidly than usual. It would not make a mushroom cloud since that is only because of it's motion within another medium (air).
2007-03-08 00:41:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
To see a Nuclear Reaction in space, look at the Sun...It is like an enormous Fusion Reactor and has been fusing material for over 4 Billion years and hopefully will continue for another 4 - 5 Billions years...
Fusion or Fission for that matter occurs at the sub-atomic level as has nothing to do with whether or not there is air or oxygen present...
2007-03-08 08:53:06 · answer #2 · answered by BAM55 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Nuclear reactions have a twofold scenario. One is Nuclear fusion ,and the other is Nuclear fission. The mechanism of energy release do not work the same way for the two types of Nuclear Chemistry.
Fusion energy release has to to with the mass exchange of atomic restructures.That mass exchange is called mass defect which exist the parent atom at the speed of light.
Fission related to the spliting of the Nuclear which in turns
collide with other atoms and at each collison mass exchange also occurs in terms of mass loss aout of the parent atoms.
If there is no material in space for atoms to interacts than the strenght of the Nuclear explosion is only limited to the inherent mass of the atomic interaction .
Oxigen reactions are not necessary for causing nuclear explosions.
What it would look like? The burst of light intensity from Fission would be different from the burst of light of Nuclear Fusion.
2007-03-08 09:12:12 · answer #3 · answered by goring 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In the 1950s and 1960s both the Soviets and Americans detonated a number of nuclear weapons in space. See the source.
2007-03-08 08:53:18 · answer #4 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I would think it would be sphere shaped. The sun is a giant nuclear reacation.
2007-03-08 08:51:39 · answer #5 · answered by Mark M 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
One of the space missions that landed on the moon carried a small reactor and left it there.
2007-03-08 10:59:48 · answer #6 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
a star.
the sun for example
2007-03-08 11:55:53 · answer #7 · answered by dkroirl 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋