How is a nuclear bomb made?

Atomic bombs are made up of a fissile element, such as uranium, that is enriched in the isotope that can sustain a fission nuclear chain reaction. When a free neutron hits the nucleus of a fissile atom like uranium-235 (235U), the uranium splits into two smaller atoms called fission fragments, plus more neutrons.

How does a nuclear bomb work step by step?

Modern nuclear weapons work by combining chemical explosives, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion. The explosives compress nuclear material, causing fission; the fission releases massive amounts of energy in the form of X-rays, which create the high temperature and pressure needed to ignite fusion.

Is it easy to develop nuclear weapons?

Amid all the fear and confusion, one fact remains: It is notoriously difficult to build an advanced nuclear weapon. “It’s a very challenging goal,” Leonard Spector, deputy director of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, said today in a telephone interview.

How long does it take to build a nuclear bomb?

That’s enough to build one atomic bomb, if the uranium is further refined to make it weapons-grade — a process that could take just two to three months , says David Albright, a nuclear-policy specialist at the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington DC.

What are the types of nuclear bombs?

Section Summary. There are two types of nuclear weapons—fission bombs use fission alone, whereas thermonuclear bombs use fission to ignite fusion. Both types of weapons produce huge numbers of nuclear reactions in a very short time.

What is the most challenging step in creating a nuclear weapon?

As explained above, creating a sufficient amount of HEU is the most challenging step of building this type of nuclear weapon, requiring raw materials, expertise, infrastructure, and massive amounts of energy.

How long does it take to build a nuclear weapon?

Why is it so hard to build a nuclear bomb?

Building nuclear weapons is expensive and requires technical expertise, such as enriching uranium. The fissionable isotope uranium-235, which makes up less than 1\% of natural uranium, must be separated from uranium-238, which is by far the more common isotope.