1. What is the Atomic Bomb Blast Radius Equation?

The blast radius equation estimates the destructive radius of an atomic bomb explosion based on its yield. This calculation helps understand the potential impact area of nuclear detonations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the blast radius equation:

Where:

• \( r \) — Blast radius in kilometers
• \( Y \) — Bomb yield in kilotons of TNT

Explanation: The equation accounts for the cubic root relationship between bomb yield and destructive radius, as explosive effects scale with volume rather than linear distance.

3. Importance of Blast Radius Calculation

Details: Understanding blast radius helps in nuclear weapons effects analysis, civil defense planning, and historical comparison of nuclear events.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the bomb yield in kilotons (kt) of TNT equivalent. For reference, the Hiroshima bomb was about 15 kt.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does the blast radius include?
A: This calculates the radius of severe destruction (heavy damage to buildings, high fatality rate). Actual effects extend further with decreasing intensity.

Q2: How accurate is this formula?
A: It provides a rough estimate. Actual effects depend on detonation height, terrain, weather, and building construction.

Q3: What was the blast radius of the Hiroshima bomb?
A: For the ~15 kt Hiroshima bomb, the severe destruction radius was about 1.6 km (1 mile).

Q4: How does modern thermonuclear weapons compare?
A: Modern warheads can be megaton-range (1000+ kt), creating much larger blast radii (e.g., 10-20 km for 1 Mt).

Q5: What other effects should be considered?
A: Beyond blast radius, nuclear explosions produce thermal radiation (burns), ionizing radiation, and electromagnetic pulse effects.