Eli5 Do nukes really split an atom to explode?
In: Technology
Not a *single* atom, no, but all nuclear weapons function at least partially on splitting atoms in order to generate an immense amount of heat.
Fission-based weapons (typically called atomic weapons) function exclusively on fission processes, typically fissioning enriched uranium or plutonium fuel.
Most modern weapons in the US arsenal, however, are combination fission-fusion warheads (commonly just called fusion weapons or hydrogen bombs), where you use a small fission reaction (same as in older atomic weapons) to kickstart a secondary fusion reaction. This gives the warhead a lot higher power-to-weight ratio (as the fusion fuel is hydrogen).
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