Eli5: Before the first atom bomb was detonated, there was some speculation that the chain reaction would keep continuing and lead to burning up the atmosphere. So what actually limits the size of the explosion?

Question

Eli5: Before the first atom bomb was detonated, there was some speculation that the chain reaction would keep continuing and lead to burning up the atmosphere. So what actually limits the size of the explosion?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Turning mass into energy.  Means a small amount of mass.  A limited amount of energy.   They thought it might ignite the mass within the atmosphere.