-
The first design
A man by the name of Leo Szilard files a patent application for the atomic bomb. The patent described the concept of using neutron induced chain reactions to create explosions. This was the first person to actually design the atomic bomb, implanting into minds that this weapon of mass destruction could exist. He did not know he made a design for the start of what is still one of the most feared weapons today. -
Period: to
The Atomic Bomb
-
Race to create the atomic bomb
Video-Nuclear science and World War II collided at the same time in history. In 1938, a few scientist were changing the molecular structure of atoms by bombarding them with neutrons. Leo Szilard was the first to realize that if an atom splits and sends out more than one neutron, the result could be a chain reaction. A massive energy release based on Albert Einstein's famous theory of relativity could come from an atom. So who would be the first to make this super-bomb? -
Otto Hahn discovers nuclear fission
Otto Hahn and associates Fritz Strassman and Lise Meitner were working in late 1938, they discovered nuclear fission. What that is, is when you shoot a proton at the nucleus and this takes out all the protons. Then it goes on to the next creating a chain reaction, Which is what happens in the atomic bomb. This was discovered at Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm Institute. Nuclear fission is one of multiple things that made the atomic bomb possible. -
Einstein talks to Roosevelt
On August 2, 1939, Albert Einstein and several other scientists told President Franklin D. Roosevelt of efforts in Nazi Germany to purify uranium-235, which could be used to build an atomic bomb. It was shortly thereafter that the United States Government began the serious undertaking known then only as "The Manhattan Project." Simply put, the Manhattan Project was committed to expediting research that would produce a viable atomic bomb. -
Extraction of u-235
A scientist Harold Urey and his colleagues figured out how to extract U-235 through the principle of gaseous diffusion. this made the building of an atomic weapon possible. Before this had been discovered the construction of the atomic bomb would never have been possible to do. This was the perfect substance for the nuclear fission that had recently been discovered, It made it easier and more plausible for the atomic bomb to be created. -
The Manhattan Project began
The Manhattan Project began on September 17, 1942 when Col. Leslie Richard Groves was notified at 10:30 a.m. by Gen. Brehon Somervell that his assignment overseas had been cancelled. Groves seized immediate and decisive control. In just two days he resolved issues that had dragged on for months. On September 18 Groves ordered the purchase of 1250 tons of high quality uranium ore stored on Staten Island, and the next day purchased 52000 acres of land to be the future site of Oak Ridge. -
First detonization of the atomic bomb
The United States succesfully detonate the worlds first atomic bomb. They did this in the trinity test site in the dessert of new mexico. This marked a very big day because the americans were the first ones to detonate a nuclear weapon. That day marked the day where america was feared by every country. We had the worlds most deadly weapon. -
Bomb dropped on Hiroshima
Video The first atomic bomb was dropped on this date in japan in hiroshima. This was a world changing event. Japan was forever changed. You can still go to the site of where the bomb was dropped and you can still see some of the destruction. Not only was there physical destruction but the radiation from the bomb killed thousands. -
Fat Man is dropped on Nagasaki
Video Fat man was one of the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan. It was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, Japan. The city of Kokura was the primary target, but the plane could not see the target. The passed over the city three times then switched to the secondary target, Nagasaki. The total death count was estimated at 40,000 to 75,000. -
Japan surrenders
Japan surrenders on August 15 to end World War II. This surrender came just six days after the detonation over Nagasaki. The surrender was mainly due to the droppings of the atomic bombs in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Whether dropping the bomb was necessary or not, it did defnitely end the war. The United States accepted the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945. All in all, the atomic bomb was powerful enough to end wars.
