How come an atom bomb doesnt destroy everything? does it run out of energy?

Question

How come an atom bomb doesnt destroy everything? does it run out of energy?

if its a chain reaction why does it stop eventually? same with a forest fire, why does that stop? how does it work?

i asked this in physics section and i got a bunch of schoolkids answering saying they dont know.

Answer 1

Yes, it does eventually run out of energy. Atom bombs work by creating a fission or fusion reaction with their nuclear fuel. Once the fuel is all used up, the reaction stops and the explosion doesn't get any bigger.

Same with forest fires. Once all the fuel is burnt, there's nothing left to burn and the fire goes out.

Answer 2

There is only so much fuel. It can not all be used up anyway in reality.

Its the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that should worry you most.

If one Iranian nuclear warhead was launched from a sub that went above the US at a high enough altitude and its EMP was strong enough, all power in the US would be out for atleast 6 months or longer. The entire infrastructure that is not EMP hardened like that of the New World Order... I mean our government and military and those weird towers you have seen popping up all over your local towns. Cars, powerlines, tvs, generators, everything out... STONE AGE... 4th World conditions... Are you ready for it? If not, get ready soon!

Answer 3

The chain reaction you refer to is in a supercritical mass of fissile material.  For U235 this would be about 52kg, for Pu239 about 10kg.  In a fission bomb the chain reaction itself provides the explosive energy, in a fission/fusion bomb the energy triggers a fusion reaction in a charge of lithium deuteride.  

For the chain reaction to occur the fuel has to be compressed into a single high density sphere, normally by firing together two smaller pieces using conventional explosives.  While it is compressed the chain reaction occurs, but after the bomb explodes the fissile material is blown apart and is no longer a supercritical mass.  When this happens the chain reaction stops.

Answer 4

I refer you to my answer in the physics section.

Patience is a virtue!

Answer 5

The real answer is that the energy of the explosion is created PRIOR to the explosion, and within the fission/fusion materials. If energy creation were part of the explosion, then it could expand, theoretically forever, but its energy is completely generated before release.

The proof of this is in the observation of nuclear explosions. The evidence of proof & the explanation of what happens are both shown in the article below.

Answer 6

The chain reaction inside a nuclear bomb does only work with atoms, which can be split for creating energy - that are all atoms heavier than Iron.

Finally, even the best modern nuclear bombs can't use all their nuclear fuel for creating energy - For a chain reaction, you require a high enough density and enough fuel around, to keep it running. Most bombs can stay together long enough to let the majority of the fuel react, but finally, the hot core will expand and the chain reaction will stop.

The worst kind of scenario for nuclear bomb designers is a so called "fizzle" The chain reaction starts, but the core explodes before the whole fuel was able to react, so the bomb does not use it's full potential.

A forest fire stops, when it runs out of fuel, it can reach - same principle.

Answer 7

because sothings cant be desroyed by just heat and pressure

or most of its energy was wasted on larger things.