Iran is said to have 400 kg of uranium. Despite the US and the Israeli attack, Iran has hidden it. Atomic bombs are the most powerful and destructive weapons in the world. Let us know how many atomic bombs can be made from 400 kg of uranium? What would be the size, power and effects of small, medium and large bombs?
7 to 14 atomic bombs can be made from 400 kg weapon-grade uranium (90% U-235), depending on the design (old or modern) of the bomb.
- Small bombs (0.1–10 kilotons): Light and small, for use in battlefields, havoc in a radius of 0.5–2 km.
- Medium bomb (10–100 kilotons): Those who destroy cities, such as Little Boy of Hiroshima, heavy losses in a radius of 2–5 km and death of millions.
- Big Bomb (100 Kilotan -50 Magton): Thermonuclear weapons, havoc within the radius of 10–15 km or more, millions of crores of deaths.
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1. How many atomic bombs can be made from 400 kg of uranium?
The amount of uranium and its purity is very important for making atomic bombs. Let’s understand this …
Uranium
Natural uranium: It contains only 0.7% uranium-235 (U-235), which is necessary for a atomic bomb. The remaining 99.3% is uranium-238 (U-238), which does not work in making bombs.
Weapon-grade uranium: The atomic bomb requires a uranium with at least 90% U-235, which is called highly enriched uranium, heu.
We assume that 400 kg uranium is weapon-grade (90% U-235). If it is a natural or less enriched uranium, it must first enrich it to make bombs, which will reduce the number of bombs greatly.
How much uranium is required for a bomb?
Critical Mass: This is the minimum volume that should be started to start a nuclear explosion. Weapon-grade depends on the design of the critical mass bomb for uranium …
Old design (such as Hiroshima’s “Little Boy” bomb): It requires about 50–60 kg of uranium.
modern design: Only 15–25 kg of uranium with neutron reflectors and advanced techniques is enough.
We will consider an average of 25 kg per bomb for this calculation, as it is common for modern bombs.
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Bomb math
If 400 kg of uranium is 90% U-235, then total U-235 = 400 × 0.9 = 360 kg.
At the rate of 25 kg per bomb: 360 ÷ 25 = 14.4 bombs.
Since half a bomb cannot be made, we can make 14 bombs.
If you use old design (50 kg per bomb), then: 360 ÷ 50 = 7 bombs.
Important things
- If uranium is not a weapon-grade, it will need to be enriched, which can reduce the number of bombs.
- Bomb making requires not only uranium, but also accurate explosives, neutron initiatives and advanced engineering.
- This calculation is theoretical and in reality many other factors (eg technical boundaries) can affect the number of bombs.
- conclusion: 400 kg of arms-grade uranium (90% U-235) can form 7 to 14 atomic bombs, depending on the design of the bomb.
2. Types of atomic bombs: size, strength and effects
There are many types of atomic bombs, which vary depending on their power (yield), size and use. Their power is measured in Kilotan (KT) or Magon (MT), where 1 kiloton = 1,000 tonne TNT explosives and 1 megaton = 1,000 kilotons. Complete information about small, medium and big bombs is given …
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Small atomic bomb (tactical nuclear weapons)
Shakti (Yield): 0.1 to 10 kilotons.
size: These bombs are very small and light, which can weigh up to 50–100 kg. They can be transported to artillery shells, missiles or even backpacks (“suitcase newcomes”).
design: They usually use plutonium-239 or weapon-grade uranium. They work on fission reaction.
Effect: Heavy destruction within a radius of 0.5–2 km. Buildings and infrastructure can be completely destroyed.
Summer (thermal effect): Fire and burning in a radius of 1–3 km. The risk of burning second and third degrees on the skin.
Radiation: Immediately dangerous radiation within a radius of 1 km. If the bomb bursts on the ground, radioactive fallout may contaminate the surrounding area.
Use: To destroy the enemy’s army, bases or small goals in the battlefield.
Example: America’s W54 Warhead (0.1–1 Kilotan), which was used in Davi Crocket Nuclear Rifle.
Medium atomic bomb (city-buster/strategic weapon)
Shakti (Yield): 10 to 100 kilotons.
size: These bombs are medium sized, which can weigh 100–1000 kg. They are released from missiles or aircraft.
design: These include firm reaction (uranium or plutonium) or boosted firm (with tritium). For example, Hiroshima used 60 kg of uranium in the “Little Boy” (15 kiloton).
Effect: Heavy destruction in a radius of 2–5 km. Everything can be destroyed within a radius of 1.6 km with a bomb of 15 kilotons.
Heat: Second and third degree irritation to 5–8 kilometers. Damage in large areas by fire.
Radiation: Death of immediate radiation within a radius of 1–2 km. Fallouts and explosion can spread up to dozens of kilometers depending on the height.
Loss: A 15 kiloton bomb burst in the city can immediately kill 70,000–140,000 people, as occurred in Hiroshima.
Use: To destroy cities, industrial centers or large military bases.
Example: Hiroshima’s “Little Boy” (15 Kilotan) and Nagasaki’s “Fat Man” (21 Kilotan).
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Large atomic bomb (thermonuclear/strategic weapon)
Shakti (Yield): From 100 kilotons to several megatons (1 megaton = 1,000 kilotons).
size: These bombs are large and heavy, which can weigh more than 1000 kg. They are released from intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or heavy bombers aircraft.
design: These are thermonuclear (hydrogen) bombs, which start with the first fisher reaction and then create heavy power from the fusion reaction. These require low fissural material (5–10 kg plutonium or uranium).
Effect: Heavy destruction within a radius of 10–15 km with a 1 -megaton bomb. Buildings and infrastructure completely destroyed.
Heat: Burning and fire for 20–30 km. People can be affected far away.
Radiation: Death of immediate radiation within a radius of 3–5 km. Fallouts can spread up to hundreds of kilometers, causing prolonged cancer and other diseases.
Loss: A 1 -megaton bomb can immediately die in a densely populated city. Long effects can remain.
Use: For mass destruction and deterrence.
Example: The US W88 Warhead (475 Kilotan) and the Soviet Union’s “Zar Bomba” (50 Magton, Testing in 1961), which was the most powerful bomb ever, but was much larger for practical use.
Uranium vs. Plutonium: Many modern bombs use plutonium-239, as its critical mass is low (4–10 kg). If there were 400 kg of plutonium, 40–80 bombs could have been made.
Engineering challenges: Just uranium or plutonium is not enough to make atomic bombs. Accurate explosives, neutron initiator and advanced technology are required, which is a very complex and expensive process.
Ethical and legal aspect: The manufacture and use of nuclear weapons is restricted by international rules such as Non-Proliferation Treaty, NPT. This information is only for educational purposes.