THE+A-BOMB

=== The function of an atomic bomb is to provide enough mass of plutonium or uranium to reach what is called " critical mass," where nuclear reactions going on inside the material can make up for the neutrons leaving the material through its outside surface. The two elements of plutonium or uranium in a bomb are usually separated into parts in order for the critical mass not to be reached until the bomb is ready. Once that point has been reached, any kind of mechanism or chemical explosive will drive all of the separated uranium and plutonium together to reach that "critical mass." It is then that there are sufficient amounts of neutrons bouncing inside to create a chain reaction of fission; collisions between neutrons and the atoms of uranium and plutonium cause the atoms to split into pairs of nuclear fragments releasing energy and more neutrons. The newly released neutrons hit other atoms, continuing many more fission reactions until the "fissile" material is too exhausted or scattered and cannot continue. The intense explosion is a release of enormous amounts of energy in the form of heat and a massive shockwave. The damage occurred is almost unimaginable, with pressure waves, flash burns, high winds, and a deadly radiation in the form of gamma rays and neutrons. Living matter is destroyed, and soil and water are contaminated also. ===

FROM- http://library.thinkquest.org/20176/atomicbomb.htm

The little boy The Fat man!