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

The amount of energy contained in each molecule is by proportion tiny, but by scale, massive

Take 1 uranium 235 molecule. Break it apart, it sends out a tiny pop.

That tiny pop triggers other uranium around it to break up, releasing their tiny pops

Take 235 grams or about half a pound of a certain kind of uranium, let those molecules pop, that adds up to what’s called avagadro’s number of molecule pops. Avagadro’s number is 6×10^23. Boom