Lucy Treuting Mrs. Menesses English 1 Honors 21 April 2023 The Creation of the Atomic Bomb The Atomic Bomb was one of the most difficult and legendary weapons in U.S. history. It was dreamed about for centuries, but these exceptional scientists transformed history anew with their brilliant minds and courageous perseverance. It changed the planet’s mindset, and the possibilities of science by coming up with the ideas of the bomb, experimenting and discovering ways to do it, and completing the task. It all started with the discovery of a new type of nuclear bomb, which if created correctly, could react and behave the way a bomb was supposed …show more content…
A major decision was whether to use uranium-238 (U-238) or -235 (U-235). Fermi believed that U-238 was the one they wanted, and they conducted many experiments using those elements, especially U-238. Meanwhile, back in Europe, scientists Otto Frisch and Rudolf Peierls discovered a sure way to create the bomb in a matter of weeks. Exhilarated and horrified at the same time, they sent their findings to a well-known scientist named Henry Thomas Tizard, who examined it along with a group of other scientists, who took this discovery very seriously, unlike the Uranium Committee. While frustration and anxiety began to creep in, some men had other ideas to complete this puzzling situation. According to Sonneborn, Vannevar Bush convinced the president to form a committee titled the “National Defense Research Committee” or “NRDC” which then came up with a plan to make a report on what they could make with nuclear energy; however, making an atomic bomb wasn’t included, which annoyed …show more content…
They sent a letter to Roosevelt saying they found a solution to the problem. After many tests, they launched the most famous test, called the “Trinity test” which astounded the spectators who were onlooking. One quote about the impact from the bomb’s explosion was from J. Robert Oppenheimer– “We waited until the blast had passed, walked out of the shelter and then it was entirely solemn. We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent.”
As many countries joined WWII, many of them were finding new ways to protect themselves. Thus the atomic bomb was born. The Germans found a way to split a uranium atom that created a huge explosion thanks to famous scientist, Albert Einstein. It wasn't long before the U.S. heard of this and started doing the same thing. In 1941, America hired a German physicist ad created a secret project called The Manhattan Project.
This declination led to the demonstration of the ultimatum, to which the atomic bomb served as a suitable weapon. This atomic bomb was first introduced to Roosevelt and the American government in 1939 by a letter written by Albert Einstein. This letter warned Roosevelt of the potential creation of bombs through uranium, specifically the potential creation in
In 1945, Japan was losing World War Two, but was split between surrendering or fighting till the end. As they chose to fight instead of surrender, that is when Harry Truman was notified about the successful test of the “most terrible bomb in history”. Multiple hours were spent doing research, and billions of dollars were used for its production. Since an atomic bomb is serious the heat released in a nuclear explosion creates a sphere of burning gas that can range from hundreds of feet. Since Harry Truman was president at the time it was his decision whether or not he was going to use the bomb to end the war.
Paul Boyer, the author of By the Bomb’s Early Light, has an unusually high level of expertise on the subject of atomic bombs. He is an American biochemist, analytical chemist, and a professor of chemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is at the top of his field, and is a perfect candidate to write this book. Not only will he be an expert in the science of atomic bombs, but he will know the history of this kind of technology. Paul Boyer’s main idea in this book is more of a discussion of Nuclear Policy and a look back at the nuclear age.
And the most important item to create the bomb is uranium which can be found in the Belgian Congo Einstein stated. With this information, the United States could start making its own atomic bombs. Albert Einstein helped them by telling them where to find the materials needed, he was a main part of the United States creating the atomic
Throughout history the atomic bomb has been looked at in amazement or horror. The atomic bomb has earned a gaze of horror for all the lives lost. The atomic bomb was an extremist act highly that should not have happened for many reasons. The atomic bomb was created in order to have a counterattack against Germany if they used such a device on the Allied powers.
JFK once said, " Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind." In 1939 Albert Einstein had written the US president of the potential to build a nuclear weapon. The US entrance into the war on December 7th of 1941 led to the president creating the Manhattan Project in 1942 where the atomic bomb was developed. On August 6th of 1945 US president Truman ordered the bombing of Hiroshima using the atomic bomb, 3 days later he ordered a second bomb to be dropped in Nagasaki. The US was justified in using the atomic bomb to end WWII because, America's technology was their greatest achievement, during the time of war death is inevitable, and Japan ignored all warnings given by America.
First used in war on August 6, 1945 the atomic bomb was dropped on to Hiroshima killing thousands. On that fateful day a door was opened out of which came a monster the world had no idea how to deal with. The ability to destroy a massive amount of the population so effortlessly has created a world-wide issue that continues to this day. Tension runs rampant in international relations, many times due to the power behind atomic bombs and the advancements thereafter. There has been controversy over whether or not U.S. President Truman made the right decision by using the atomic bomb on Japan.
In 1911, scientist Ernest Rutherford discovered the nucleus of the atom. In 1934, Enrico Fermi irradiated uranium with neutrons, the uranium absorbed one neutron only to eject two, creating a chain reaction with surrounding uranium atoms, creating a nuclear chain reaction, and the first nuclear fission. In 1939, Albert Einstein writes to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, warning him of the use of uranium in a weapon. On Dec. 6, 1941 Roosevelt authorizes the Manhattan Engineering District, which will become the Manhattan Project. On July 16, 1945, the first nuclear bomb, called the Trinity Test, is detonated at Alamogordo, NM (Nuclear Weapons
During World War II, the United States discovered that the energy of the atom could be used in a new form of bomb. However, the Germans also discovered this, meaning that it would be a race to actually complete the weapon. The U.S. knew it needed to act fast and so three facilities were created for the development of the weapon in Washington, New Mexico, and Tennessee. The plants in Tennessee were based in almost the middle of nowhere.
It annihilated a mass of the Japanese population, including innocent civilians. Oppenheimer once said, “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” Oppenheimer states his responsibility for the deaths of the people. His discovery also indirectly erupted the nuclear arms race between nations. This was years after World War II.
In 1939, the scientific community, specifically German physicists had learned the secrets of splitting a uranium atom (The Manhattan Project” 2015). America realized that Adolf Hitler’s Germany obtained a massive amount of scientific talent. With their access had necessary raw materials and knowledge of the splitting of the uranium atom, they had the industrial capacity to produce an atomic bomb(“Manhattan Project”2014). The atomic bomb would eventually become the turning point of weaponry during World War II. On October 11, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt received a letter from Albert Einstein about the splitting of the uranium atom which could be beneficial in developing weapons for America during World War II.
The Manhattan Project, which had developed the bomb, had cost billions of dollars and involved the work of thousands of scientists and engineers. Many believed that it would be a waste not to use the weapon that they had worked so tirelessly to create. It is worth noting, however, that many scientists involved in the Manhattan Project later expressed regret about their involvement in the development of the bomb and the decision to use it. They saw the immense destructive power of the bomb and feared that it would lead to a dangerous arms race and the eventual destruction of
The atomic bomb is one of the most powerful and efficient bombs available. The atomic bomb would eventually bring World War II to an end due to Japan’s surrender to the United States of America. Without the development of the atomic bomb during World War II, many more American lives would have been lost to defeat the Japanese. The atomic bomb played an immense role during World War II and led to the Allied victory of the war. New developments and technological advances are very important, as well as necessary, to war.
Overall, The Manhattan Project led to a substantial improvement to the American military, giving the U.S. power over military conflicts, such as the Cold War and World War II. In addition, not only did The Manhattan Project have a beneficial effect on the American military for war uses, but also altered the world of science by constructing an advancement in medicine and biology. This article published by a Princeton University historian, Angela Creager, illustrates how constructing the atomic bomb resulted in “knowledge and technology that grew out of the secret U.S.-led effort to build atomic bombs delivered on that promise — making possible important breakthroughs in medicine and biology.” (Creager