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Chapter 19: Problem 49

How does a hydrogen bomb work?

Short Answer

Expert verified
A hydrogen bomb works based on the principle of nuclear fusion where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy. The process starts with a fission reaction creating the necessary conditions for the hydrogen isotopes to undergo fusion. This results in a chain reaction where the energy released by each fusion causes nearby fusion fuel to undergo the same process until all the fuel is used up, causing a massive explosion.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Fusion

Nuclear fusion is a process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier nucleus. In this process, mass is not conserved because some of the mass of the nuclear particles is converted to energy following Einstein's mass-energy equivalence principle \(E=mc^2\). In the sun, for example, hydrogen nuclei (protons) come together to form helium, releasing a large amount of energy in the process.
02

Proton-Proton chain reaction

The nuclear fusion process involved in a hydrogen bomb is more complex than in the sun. It begins with a fusion of two protons to form a deuteron (a hydrogen nucleus containing a proton and neutron), a positron and a neutrino in a sequence of reactions known as a proton-proton chain reaction. The positron quickly annihilates with a nearby electron, releasing two gamma photons. The ejected neutrino escapes the sun's core, carrying away some energy.
03

Fusion Bomb Mechanism

In a hydrogen bomb, the fusion fuel is mixed with a fissionable material (like enriched uranium or plutonium) in a shell casing. When the bomb is detonated, the fissionable material undergoes fission, providing the extreme temperatures and pressure required to initiate a fusion reaction. In the fusion reaction, hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium) fuse together to form helium, releasing an enormous amount of energy.
04

Chain Reaction

The ignition of this fusion reaction sets off a chain reaction. The released energy causes nearby fusion fuel to undergo fusion, unleashing even more energy. This chain reaction continues until all the fusion fuel is consumed, causing a massive explosion.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

To detect bombs that may be smuggled onto airplanes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will soon require all major airports in the United States to install thermal neutron analyzers. The thermal neutron analyzer will bombard baggage with low-energy neutrons, converting some of the nitrogen- 14 nuclei to nitrogen- \(15,\) with simultaneous emission of \(\gamma\) rays. Because nitrogen content is usually high in explosives, detection of a high dosage of \(\gamma\) rays will suggest that a bomb may be present. (a) Write an equation for the nuclear process. (b) Compare this technique with the conventional X-ray detection method.

For each pair of isotopes listed, predict which one is less stable: (a) \({ }_{3}^{6} \mathrm{Li}\) or \({ }_{3}^{9} \mathrm{Li}\), (b) \({ }_{11}^{23} \mathrm{Na}\) or \({ }_{11}^{25} \mathrm{Na}\) (c) \({ }_{20}^{48} \mathrm{Ca}\) or \({ }_{21}^{48} \mathrm{Sc}\).

Describe how you would use a radioactive iodine isotope to demonstrate that the following process is in dynamic equilibrium: $$\mathrm{PbI}_{2}(s) \rightleftharpoons \mathrm{Pb}^{2+}(a q)+2 \mathrm{I}^{-}(a q)$$

A freshly isolated sample of \({ }^{90} \mathrm{Y}\) was found to have an activity of \(9.8 \times 10^{5}\) disintegrations per minute at 1: 00 P.M. on December 3,2003 . At 2: 15 P.M. on December \(17,2003,\) its activity was redetermined and found to be \(2.6 \times 10^{4}\) disintegrations per minute. Calculate the half-life of \({ }^{90} \mathrm{Y}\).

For each pair of elements listed, predict which one has more stable isotopes: (a) Co or \(\mathrm{Ni}\), (b) \(\mathrm{F}\) or Se, (c) Ag or Cd.
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