How were the Manhattan Project scientists able to predict the possibility of the atmosphere igniting after using an atomic bomb, and how did they come to the conclusion that the atmosphere wouldn’t ignite?

Question

Did the non-zero risk of the atmosphere igniting increase as nuclear weapon yields got larger and larger?

Obviously a result of watching Oppenheimer.

In: 789

Answer 1

I have not seen the “Movie” yet. However as to the actual historical events as actually described (and as such what – archived – on the internet….)

There’s this:

“a study was commissioned to explore the matter in detail, and six months before the Trinity test, the very first detonation of nuclear device, Edward Teller and Emil Konopinski announced their findings in a report with the ominous title “Ignition of the Atmosphere With Nuclear Bombs.”

“It is shown that, whatever the temperature to which a section of the atmosphere may be heated, no self-propagating chain of nuclear reactions is likely to be started. The energy losses to radiation always overcompensate the gains due to the reactions.”

As we’ve thankfully witnessed after more than 2,000 nuclear detonations, Teller and Konopinski’s conclusion appears to be correct.”

SOURCE:

[https://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2019/09/12/the_fear_that_a_nuclear_bomb_could_ignite_the_atmosphere.html](https://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2019/09/12/the_fear_that_a_nuclear_bomb_could_ignite_the_atmosphere.html)

​

and there’s this item of Woo Hoo Major Balls Plus info:

“Fermi began offering anyone listening a wager on “whether or not the bomb would ignite the atmosphere, and if so, whether it would merely destroy New Mexico or destroy the world.”

SOURCE:

[https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/Events/1945/trinity.htm](https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/Events/1945/trinity.htm)

and this link too, for info:

https://www.insidescience.org/manhattan-project-legacy/atmosphere-on-fire

​

Just imagine all that. THAT GAMBLE.

and **Why**. (They were Sighting on one kind of dude controlling the *show*. )

a Hitler.

Just think. **What would** all of **they** who Did All That – THAT kind of GAMBLE!

To Prevent – a – Hitler – World

**THINK OF**

**THIS 2023 GENERATION**

**ALLOWING A**

**TRUMP**.

to even be……