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History 181B:  Modern Physics
Class 36 (4/16/01)
Fission as a weapon
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Outline The physics of the fission bomb

     The nature of the technical challenge
      Consequences: what sort of project is needed
          What is more and what is less difficult
          Why did other countries not build a bomb during the war?

If you missed the two-page handout, please pick it up in Prof. Carson's office hours.

Names and terms 
Primary Secondary
critical mass
nuclear reactor
fizzle
isotope separation
gun-type bomb (U, Hiroshima)
implosion bomb (Pu, Nagasaki)
Copyright © Cathryn Carson 2001