why splitting a tiny particle can cause such a devastating blast
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A nuclear fission event is like triggering mouse trap.
The atomic components (protons and neutrons) are held apart by intervening particles. Basically they aren’t packed in very compactly and there is room to collapse and snap together.
This is like the arms of mousetrap held apart by a latch.
The incredibly strong spring of the trap will slam the arm to the trap if the latch fails.
The stronger the spring, the stronger the trap.
Most interactions you experience are actually involved with the electrical force. You can think of this as the spring in the trap.
Nuclear reactions involve the strong force. Which is, well, much much stronger. Like 130x stronger.
So when a nuclear reaction triggers, it’s a much much stronger mousetrap. Like the different between using a paperclip for the trap spring, vs a cars suspension springs.
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