When a nuclear weapon detonates, its energy is released in several distinct forms:
To trigger this explosion, the fissile material must reach a , where a self-sustaining chain reaction occurs. In modern designs, this is often achieved through: atomic explosion
An atomic (fission) explosion occurs when the nuclei of heavy, unstable atoms—typically or Plutonium-239 —are split into smaller parts. This process, known as nuclear fission , releases a massive amount of energy due to the "nuclear difference," where nuclear reactions release roughly a million times more energy than chemical reactions. When a nuclear weapon detonates, its energy is
The Devastating Effects of Nuclear Weapons - The MIT Press Reader When a nuclear weapon detonates
: Shooting one piece of uranium into another to create a supercritical mass (used in the "Little Boy" bomb).