what's the difference btwn a nuclear bomb and a "dirty" bomb?

Answer 1

I believe that you would like to know the difference between a nuclear detonation and a dirty bomb. A dirty bomb is a nuclear bomb, however it uses a conventional detonation. The purpose of a dirty bomb is to spread radio active contamination within a limited area, The bomb itself may not cause much damage.

A Nuclear detonation, is when the atom is split and there is a massive explosion. Most Nuclear weapons are rated in kilo tons. A small nuclear detonation could be equivalent to that of packing a football stadium full to the top with TNT and exploding it. Along with a nuclear detonation, you will have A,B,and G radiation unlike a dirty bomb just having a, and b. Gama is the deadly ray as it will go straight through you.

Answer 2

Other possibilities for a dirty bomb besides the fact that one type of such a weapon could be used to spread radioactive material following the blast of the conventional explosive device. I believe a "dirty" bomb in definition could also spread biological or chemical agents from such a conventional detonation.
The nuclear bomb has been defined here by several of the folks answering this question; and, I woud concur.

Answer 3

A Dirty Bomb is a regular Bomb surrounded by radioactive materials.

A nuclear bomb is just the bomb that explodes as a result of either Nuclear Fission or Nuclear Fusion, A bomb or H Bomb respectively.

Then of course you can use a 'Nuke' that is badly constructed such that it gives off lots of radioactivity and radioactive waste when it explodes and, it too can be further surrounded by more radioactive waste as to give an even dirtier effect.

Answer 4

I believe that in the current definition a dirty bomb is a nuclear device that fails to achieve a true nuclear yield and just goes off at yield equivalent to a conventional high explosive. In doing so, it spreads the fissionable material contaminating a large area with radioactivity.

In times past, air bursts and sub-surface bursts used to be considered "cleaner" than a surface burst because of the lower amounts of radioactive dust that was put into the atmosphere.

Answer 5

A nuclear bomb takes its power from a nuclear reaction of Uranium or Plutonium, and generates a massive shockwave and much radiation and heat. A dirty bomb is a bomb that releases radiation.

Answer 6

A nuclear bomb undergoes a nuclear reaction, and the damage is caused by the heat and blast, in addition to the radiation.

A dirty bomb is a conventional explosive, and has the same heat and blast as a conventional explosive. But it spreads radioactive material over a much larger area, like shrapnel.

Answer 7

nuclear bombs emit force from the destruction of uranium nucleus after being bombarded by a stream of neutrons, a tremendous release of energy using the practical aspects of e=MC2.

Dirty bombs use conventional explosives to blow up spent nuclear fuel (rods) or other radioactive material to be spread by the wnds from the force of the conventional explosion.

Answer 8

A nuclear device has a reaction that causes the explosion. A dirty bomb is just an explosive device that has some radioactive material that will be dispersed by the explosion.

Answer 9

A nuclear bomb makes a bigger boom and kills many more people.

Answer 10

Nuclear- nuclear reactions
Dirty- toxic stuff that kills humans