just curious; this whole thing is shroaed in mystery, and i'm just wondering why a raid on nuclear material would not make a huge and noticiable splash, one big enough that perhaps surrounding areas can see. probably a dumb question, but please humor me.
and please save any anti-semitic, anti-Zionist, or anti-Israel comments for other discussions. i just want an objective answer to a clear question.
2007-10-07 16:01:45 · 8 answers · asked by jd e 1 in News & Events ➔ Current Events
A nuclear explosion is not easy to do. For a nuclear explosion to occur a number of carefully arranged shaped explosives must compress the fissionable material into a critical density and mass. It is impossible for it to happen by accident, or as a result of bombing the area that nuclear material is in.
However, if an area is bombed that is full of fissionable material, that material would be scattered around the site, and that would show up on radiation detectors. Theoretically, at least, this could even be detected from orbit by spy satellites.
2007-10-07 16:15:17 · answer #1 · answered by Return of the Dude 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, no there wouldn't be a nuclear explosion. Creating a nuclear explosion is a very precision, technical event and just the event of, possibly, blowing up a nuclear weapon would not cause a nuclear explosion. Now, If you do more digging if would appear that what was targeted wasn't a nuclear weapon, but some sort of nuclear OR missile technology. N. Korean has only trafficked in missile technology in the past, so that is the most likely possibility, although with the six-party nations breathing down their necks, it is possible the Koreans were up to something else with the Syrians to, maybe, preserve some of their technology. Notice the Syrians haven't really complained and I'd tend to believe that means they can't admit what it was they had. No saints in this game on any side.
2007-10-07 16:11:50 · answer #2 · answered by Robert E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is still unclear if it was parts or weapons but to answer the question a nuclear weapon is very hard to detonate. It is not like other explosives. For instance, if a bomb hits a nuclear bomb carrying plane or boat the nuke will not detonate. Even if hit by another nuclear weapon. The detonator is one of the hardest parts to make. Hope that answered your question which I think was a good one.
2007-10-07 16:25:32 · answer #3 · answered by adamic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whoever said they destroyed nukes? I never heard that. Israel did that raid on Syria to strike back at terrorist targets which the day before had launched small missiles into Israel, which hit civilian targets.
It had nothing at all to do with nukes.
2007-10-07 16:41:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there wouldn't be any noticible explosions.
The destruction is never a thermo-nuclear event. They take thae bombs apart and blow the seperate pieces up.
Since you asked about Israel, if it was them, they probably kept the nuclear fissionable material for their own nuclear program.
2007-10-07 16:12:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dropping a non-nuclear bomb on a place where nuclear bombs are stored won't cause the nuclear bombs to detonate as nuclear devices.
2007-10-07 16:23:16 · answer #6 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can destroy nuclear material without it exploding.
2007-10-07 16:40:50 · answer #7 · answered by citizenvnfla 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is more than one way to destroy nukes. I think it is called dismantling.
2007-10-07 16:14:39 · answer #8 · answered by eek! 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋