With the use of atomic energy, mankind began to develop nuclear weapons. It is distinguished by a number of features and environmental impacts. There are varying degrees of nuclear weapon damage.
In order to develop the correct behavior in the event of such a threat, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of the situation after the explosion. The characteristics of nuclear weapons, their types and damaging factors will be discussed below.
General definition
In the lessons on the subject of the basics of life safety (life safety), one of the areas of study is to consider the characteristics of nuclear, chemical, bacteriological weapons and their characteristics. The laws of the occurrence of such dangers, their manifestation and methods of protection are also studied. This in theory allows to reduce the number of human casualties in the defeat of weapons of mass destruction.
Nuclear is an explosive type of weapon whose action is based on the energy of chain fission of heavy isotope nuclei. Also, a damaging force can appear during thermonuclear fusion. These two types of weapons differ in force of action. Fission reactions with one mass will be 5 times weaker than with thermonuclear reactions.
The first nuclear bomb was developed in the United States in 1945. The first blow with this weapon was made on 08/05/1945. The bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima in Japan.
In the USSR, the first nuclear bomb was developed in 1949. It was blown up in Kazakhstan, outside settlements. In 1953, the USSR conducted tests of a hydrogen bomb. This weapon was 20 times superior in strength to that which was dropped on Hiroshima. The size of these bombs was the same.
The characterization of nuclear weapons on life safety is considered in order to determine the consequences and ways to survive a nuclear attack. The correct behavior of the population with such a defeat can save more lives. The conditions that develop after the explosion depend on in which place it occurred, what power it had.
Nuclear weapons are several times greater in power and destructive actions than conventional aerial bombs. If it is used against enemy troops, the defeat is extensive. At the same time, huge human losses are observed, equipment, structures and other objects are destroyed.
Characteristics
Considering a brief description of nuclear weapons, their main types should be listed. They may contain energy of various origins. Nuclear weapons include ammunition, their carriers (delivering ammunition to the target), as well as equipment for controlling the explosion.
Ammunition can be nuclear (based on fission reactions), thermonuclear (based on fusion reactions), as well as combined. To measure the power of a weapon, the TNT equivalent is used. This value characterizes its mass, which would be needed to create an explosion of similar power. The TNT equivalent is measured in tons as well as megatons (MT) or kilotons (kt).
The power of ammunition, the action of which is based on fission reactions of atoms, can be up to 100 kt. If synthesis weapons were used in the manufacture of weapons, it can have a capacity of 100-1000 ct (up to 1 Mt).
Ammunition Size
The greatest destructive force can be achieved using combined technologies. The characteristics of the nuclear weapons of this group are characterized by the development according to the scheme “division → synthesis → division”. Their power can exceed 1 MT. In accordance with this indicator, the following groups of weapons are distinguished:
- Ultra small.
- Small ones.
- Medium.
- Large.
- Extra large.
Considering a brief description of nuclear weapons, it should be noted that the purpose of its use may be different. There are nuclear bombs that create underground (underwater), ground, air (up to 10 km) and high-altitude (over 10 km) explosions. The scale of destruction and the consequences depend on this characteristic. In this case, lesions can be caused by various factors. After the explosion, several species are formed.
Types of explosions
The definition and characterization of nuclear weapons allows us to conclude about the general principle of its operation. The consequences will depend on where the bomb was detonated.
An airborne nuclear explosion occurs 10 km above the ground. At the same time, its luminous region does not come into contact with the earth or water surface. The dust column is separated from the explosion cloud. The cloud that appeared as a result moves in the wind, gradually dissipates. This type of explosion can cause significant damage to the army, destroy buildings, destroy aircraft.
An explosion of a high-altitude type looks like a spherical luminous region. Its size will be larger than with the ground use of the same bomb. After the explosion, the spherical region turns into an annular cloud. There is no dust pillar and cloud. If an explosion occurs in the ionosphere, it will subsequently dampen radio signals and disrupt the operation of radio equipment. Radiation contamination of land sites is practically not observed. This type of explosion is used to destroy aircraft or space enemy equipment.
The characteristics of a nuclear weapon and a center of nuclear destruction in a ground explosion are different from the previous two types of explosions. In this case, the luminous region is in contact with the ground. A funnel forms at the site of the explosion. A large dust cloud forms. A large amount of soil is involved in it. Radioactive products fall out of the cloud with the earth. Radioactive contamination of the area will be great. With the help of such an explosion, fortified objects are destroyed, the troops that are in shelters are destroyed. The surrounding areas are highly contaminated by radiation.
An explosion can also be underground. A luminous area may not be observed. Fluctuations in the soil after the explosion are like an earthquake. A funnel forms. A column of soil with radiation particles soars into the air and spreads over the area.
Also, an explosion can be made above or under water. In this case, instead of soil, water vapor escapes into the air. They carry radiation particles. Infections in this case will also be strong.
Striking factors
The characterization of nuclear weapons and the focus of nuclear damage is determined using certain damaging factors. They can have different effects on objects. After the explosion, the following effects can be observed:
- Infection of the ground with radiation.
- Shock wave
- Electromagnetic pulse (EMP).
- Penetrating radiation.
- Light emission.
One of the most dangerous damaging factors is the shock wave. She has a huge energy reserve. The defeat causes both a direct hit and indirect factors. They, for example, can be flying fragments, objects, stones, soil, etc.
Light emission appears in the optical range. It includes ultraviolet, visible and infrared rays of the spectrum. The main damaging effects of light radiation are high temperature and blinding.
Penetrating radiation is the flux of neutrons, as well as gamma rays. In this case, living organisms receive a high dose of radiation, radiation sickness may occur.
A nuclear explosion is also accompanied by an electric field. The impulse spreads over long distances. It incapacitates communication lines, equipment, electricity, radio communications. In this case, the equipment may even ignite. May cause electric shock to people.
Considering nuclear weapons, their types and characteristics, another striking factor should also be mentioned. This is the damaging effect of radiation on the ground. This type of factor is characteristic of fission reactions. In this case, most often the bomb is blown low in the air, on the surface of the earth, under the ground and on the water. In this case, the terrain is strongly infected by dropping particles of soil or water. The infection process can last up to 1.5 days.
Shock wave
The characteristics of the shock wave of a nuclear weapon are determined by the region in which the explosion occurred. It can be underwater, aerial, seismic and explosive and differs in a number of parameters depending on the type.
An air blast wave is an area in which air is sharply compressed. In this case, the shock propagates faster than the speed of sound. It affects people, equipment, buildings, weapons at great distances from the epicenter of the explosion.
The ground blast wave loses part of its energy on the formation of earthquakes, the formation of a funnel and the evaporation of the earth. To destroy the fortifications of military units, a ground-based bomb is used. Uninhabited residential buildings are more destroyed by an air explosion.
Considering briefly the characteristics of the damaging factors of nuclear weapons, it should be noted the severity of the lesions in the zone of the shock wave. The most serious fatal consequences occur in an area where the pressure is 1 kgf / cm². Lesions of moderate severity are observed in the pressure zone of 0.4-0.5 kgf / cm². If the shock wave has a power of 0.2-0.4 kgf / cm², the lesions are small.
At the same time, much less damage is caused to personnel if people were lying down when they were exposed to the shock wave. Even less affected are people in trenches and trenches. A good level of protection in this case has enclosed spaces that are located underground. Correctly constructed engineering structures can protect personnel from being hit by a shock wave.
Military equipment also fails. At low pressure, slight compression of the rocket bodies can be observed. Also some of their devices, cars, other vehicles and similar means fail.
Light emission
Considering the general characteristics of nuclear weapons, one should consider such a damaging factor as light radiation. It manifests itself in the optical range. Light radiation propagates in space due to the appearance of a luminous region in a nuclear explosion.
The temperature of light radiation can reach millions of degrees. This damaging factor goes through three degrees of development. Their calculation is carried out in tens of hundredths of a second.
A luminous cloud at the time of the explosion gains temperature up to millions of degrees. Then, in the process of its disappearance, the heating decreases to thousands of degrees. In the initial stage, the energy is still not enough to generate a large level of heat. It occurs in the first phase of the explosion. 90% of the light energy is generated in the second period.
The exposure time of light radiation is determined by the power of the explosion itself. If an ultra-small munition is detonated, this damaging factor can last only a few tenths of a second.
When a small projectile is activated, light radiation will act for 1-2 s. The duration of this manifestation in the explosion of an average munition is 2-5 s. If an extra-large bomb is involved, the light pulse can last more than 10 s.
The amazing ability in the presented category determines the light pulse of the explosion. It will be the greater, the higher the power of the bomb.
The damaging effect of light radiation is manifested by the appearance of burns on open and closed areas of the skin, mucous membranes. In this case, fire of various materials, equipment may occur.
The power of the impact of a light pulse is weakened by cloudiness, various objects (buildings, forests). Defeat of personnel may be caused by fires that occur after the explosion. To protect him from defeat, people are transferred to underground structures. It also stores military equipment.
Reflectors are used on surface objects, moisturize, sprinkle snow with combustible materials, impregnate them with flame retardant compounds. Special protective kits are used.
Penetrating radiation
The concept of nuclear weapons, characteristics, and damaging factors make it possible to take appropriate measures to prevent large human and technical losses in the event of an explosion.
Light radiation and shock wave are the main damaging factors. However, penetrating radiation has an equally strong effect after the explosion. It spreads in the air at a distance of up to 3 km.
Gamma rays and neutrons pass through living matter and contribute to the ionization of molecules and cell atoms of various organisms. This leads to the development of radiation sickness. The source of this damaging factor is the processes of synthesis and fission of atoms, which are observed at the time of its application.
The power of this effect is measured in rad. The dose that affects living tissue is characterized by the type, power and type of nuclear explosion, as well as the remoteness of the object from the epicenter.
Studying the characteristics of nuclear weapons, methods of exposure and protection against them, one should consider in detail the degree of manifestation of radiation sickness. There are 4 degrees. With a mild form (first degree), the dose of radiation received by a person is 150-250 rad. The disease is cured within 2 months in a stationary manner.
The second degree occurs when the radiation dose is up to 400 rad. In this case, the composition of the blood changes, hair falls out. Active treatment is required. Recovery occurs after 2.5 months.
Severe (third) degree of the disease manifests itself when irradiated up to 700 rad. If the treatment goes well, a person can recover after 8 months of inpatient treatment. Residual effects occur much longer.
In the fourth stage, the radiation dose is over 700 rad. A person dies in 5-12 days. If the radiation exceeds the limit of 5000 rad, the personnel die after a few minutes. If the body has been weakened, a person even with small doses of radiation exposure can hardly tolerate radiation sickness.
Protection against penetrating radiation can be special materials that inhibit different types of rays.
Electromagnetic pulse
When considering the characteristics of the main damaging factors of nuclear weapons, one should also study the characteristics of the electromagnetic pulse. During the explosion, especially at high altitude, extensive areas are created through which the radio signal cannot pass. They exist for a relatively short time.
In power lines, other conductors, an increased voltage occurs. The appearance of this damaging factor is caused by the interaction of neutrons and gamma rays in the frontal part of the shock wave, as well as around this area. As a result, electric charges are separated, forming electromagnetic fields.
The effect of a ground-based explosion of an electromagnetic pulse is determined at a distance of several kilometers from the epicenter. When a bomb is exposed at a distance of more than 10 km from the earth, an electromagnetic pulse can occur at a distance of 20-40 km from the surface.
The action of this damaging factor is directed to a greater extent to various radio equipment, apparatus, electrical appliances. As a result, high voltages are formed in them. This leads to destruction of the insulation of the conductors. Fire or electric shock may occur. Various systems of signaling, communication and control are most affected by manifestations of an electromagnetic pulse.
To protect equipment from the destructive factor presented, it will be necessary to shield all conductors, equipment, military devices, etc.
The characterization of the damaging factors of nuclear weapons makes it possible to take timely measures to prevent the destructive effect of various influences after an explosion.
