how can splitting a tiny piece of an even tinier atom create such a vast explosion?

Question

how can splitting a tiny piece of an even tinier atom create such a vast explosion?

In: Physics

Answer 1

It doesn’t. The explosion happens when you split lots and lots and lots of atoms at the same time. Just like a gasoline fire means lots and lots and lots of molecules have to burn. But you still get way more energy per atom than you get with burning.