The Yields of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Nuclear Explosions

By Malik, John

Book Id: WPLBN0000702803
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 1.81 MB.
Reproduction Date: 2006

Title:	The Yields of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Nuclear Explosions
Author:	Malik, John
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Government publications, Energy, Energy and research series
Collections:	Department of Energy Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Government Printing Office


Citation APA MLA Chicago Malik, J. (n.d.). The Yields of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Nuclear Explosions. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.us/

Excerpt
Excerpt: II. TRINITY TEST The purposes of the Trinity Test of July 16, 1945, were to determine the performance of the Fat Man; to determine the explosion-s physical effects, particularly blast; and to evaluate methods of determining the yield of the weapons to be used against Japan. Yield was measured on the combat missions by determining the fireball-s rate of growth and the time dependence of the overpressure of the blast wave at altitude. Data were to be obtained on the combat missions from instrumentation aircraft accompanying the strike aircraft. The growth of the fireball was to be recorded with a Fastax TM camera mounted on the gyrostabilizer of the Norden~ bomb sight of the photographic aircraft; the camera was to be operated on the first mission by B. Waldman and by R. Serber on the second. Overpressure-vs-time data were to be obtained from gages in parachute-retarded canisters dropped by and telemetered to another instrumented aircraft in formation with the strike aircraft; this program was executed by a group headed by L. Alvarez, which included H. Agnew and L. Johnston.