Ending the War with a Bang The Atom Bomb

The Atom Bomb In 1940 both the Americans and British were researching the atom bomb. German scientists also looking into the possibility of an atom bomb. When the United States entered WW2, the British joined the American "Manhattan Project" and production of the bomb went on ahead in the US.

The Atom Bomb The explosion of an atom bomb consists of an immense release of energy caused by the chain reaction in which more and more atoms are split. The first bombs required radioactive Uranium or Plutonium (derived from uranium). Canada bought the El Dorado mine that produced uranium, and provided the Manhattan project with the uranium they needed.

The Atom Bomb By 1945 the “Manhattan Project” had successfully tested the first atomic bomb. It was decided that in order to try and avoid casualties that would be associated with the invasion of mainland Japan, the US would try to get Japan to surrender by dropping the bomb.

Little Boy Fat Man

Fat Man’s mushroom cloud

Effects Hiroshima 140-150,000 people dead and injured Nagasaki 75-100,000 people dead and injured Many of the wounded would die in the coming days, months and even years due to radiation exposure and burns. The terrain and spread-out nature of Nagasaki reduced destruction of life and property somewhat despite Fat Man's greater destructive power.

The bomb killed indiscriminately: Men and women, children and the elderly. Like other terror tactics used during the war, the attack was aimed at civilians. Be aware that the images that I am about to show you are graphic. They show some of the horrible effects of radiation on people who were exposed to the atomic bomb. Many did not die of their injuries immediately and had to suffer for weeks, months or even years.

Was it worth it? Some say that the atomic bomb saved thousands of lives, because it ended the war without an invasion of mainland Japan. Was this positive worth the negative effects? What were these negative effects?