Hiroshima: Explained
Exploring what happened in Japan to the fullest extent
X Explained is my series explaining historical events which include even the slightest amount of science — let me know in the comments whether this should be a weekly, 2x, 3x a week, etc. occurrence. Oh and by the way, in the end, as with the Chernobyl article, we will have a science-y part detailing how an atomic bomb works.
Part I of the series:
https://medium.com/illumination/chornobyl-explained-2e8130b585
Background and Context
The Manhattan Project: The Birth of the Atomic Bomb
If you’re a fan of science and history, you’ve probably heard of the Manhattan Project. This top-secret operation was responsible for creating one of the most powerful weapons in human history: the atomic bomb. But how did a bunch of scientists manage to build something so devastating? And what kind of wild experiments did they have to conduct to make it happen? Let’s take a look!
The Manhattan Project began in 1942, during the height of World War II. The Allied powers were desperate to gain an edge over their enemies, and the race was on to create a weapon that could end the war once and for all. Enter the scientists.
Under the leadership of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the Manhattan Project brought together some of the brightest minds in the world of science. These were the kinds of people who could recite complicated equations in their sleep and still have time to invent new kinds of math just for fun. But even for them, building the atomic bomb was a tall order.
To create the bomb, scientists needed to split the nucleus of an atom. This would release a massive amount of energy in the form of an explosion. But to do it, they would need something called “enriched uranium,” a substance made by separating out a rare isotope of uranium called U-235. This was easier said than done.
Scientists tried all kinds of wacky experiments to figure out how to enrich uranium. They spun it around in giant centrifuges. They zapped it with electric fields. They even tried shooting it with a particle accelerator, just for kicks. But in the end, they settled on a process called gaseous diffusion, which involved pumping uranium gas through tiny filters until they had enough U-235 to make a bomb.
With enriched uranium in hand, the scientists set about building the bomb itself. They built giant machines called cyclotrons to help create the nuclear chain reaction that would power the explosion. They designed the bomb casing to be sleek and aerodynamic, so it would fly through the air with maximum precision. And they made sure to add a big red button marked “DO NOT PRESS” just in case anyone got any funny ideas.
But the real fun began when it was time to test the bomb. On July 16, 1945, in the New Mexico desert, the scientists detonated the first atomic bomb in history. The explosion was so powerful, it created a mushroom cloud that could be seen for miles around. The heat was so intense, it melted sand into glass. And the sound was so loud, it could be heard over 100 miles away. In short, it was a big boom.
The Decision to Use the Bomb: Debates and Dilemmas
When the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945, it changed the course of history forever(to say the least!) The bombings ended World War II and ushered in a new era of global politics. But was it the right decision to use the bomb? And what kind of debates and dilemmas did the leaders of the time face when making that choice? Let’s take a closer look.
To understand the decision to use the bomb, we have to go back to the end of World War II. The Allied powers had been fighting for years, and victory was finally in sight. But there was a problem. The Japanese refused to surrender, and the fighting continued. That’s when President Harry Truman and his advisors began to consider using a new kind of weapon: the atomic bomb.
The idea of using the bomb was controversial from the start. Some advisors argued that it was necessary to end the war quickly and save lives. Others worried about the moral implications of using such a devastating weapon. And still, others wondered if there might be alternative ways to end the war without resorting to nuclear destruction.
The debates raged on for months. Truman himself wavered back and forth on the decision. He even created a special committee to study the issue and provide recommendations. But in the end, he decided to go ahead with the bombings. On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, followed by a second bomb on Nagasaki three days later. The result was catastrophic: tens of thousands of people were killed instantly, and many more suffered from radiation sickness in the years to come.
So what kind of dilemmas did Truman and his advisors face when making the decision to use the bomb? For one thing, they had to consider the military and strategic implications of their actions. Would using the bomb be effective in bringing the war to an end quickly? Or would it simply provoke Japan to fight harder and longer?
They also had to think about the ethical and moral implications of using such a powerful weapon. Was it morally justifiable to use a weapon that could cause so much destruction and suffering? And what kind of precedent would it set for future conflicts?
Finally, Truman and his advisors had to consider the political and diplomatic fallout of their decision. Would other nations see the use of the bomb as an act of aggression? Would it damage the United States’ reputation as a defender of human rights and democracy?
In the end, the decision to use the bomb was a difficult one, with no easy answers. Truman himself later called it the “hardest decision” he ever had to make. But listen, whether you agree with the decision or not, one thing is clear: it changed the course of history forever.
Hiroshima: Why Was It Chosen as the Target?
Now, look here Lucas, why wasn’t Tokyo chosen as the target? Well… at the time of the bombing, Hiroshima was one of the largest cities in Japan, with a population of over 300,000 people. But it was also a key military target. Hiroshima was home to a major military base and several important factories that were producing weapons and other war materials for the Japanese army.
In addition, the city was an important transportation hub, with several major rail lines and highways running through it. This made it a crucial link in Japan’s transportation network, allowing troops and supplies to be quickly moved to other parts of the country. As you can imagine, Hiroshima was turning out to be quite the perfect target!
When President Harry Truman and his advisors were considering potential targets for the atomic bomb, they looked at a number of factors. One of the most important was the strategic military value of the target. They wanted to choose a city that would have a significant impact on Japan’s ability to continue fighting the war. And to answer the previous question that I asked myself whilst pretending to be you guys, the reason the USA did not bomb Tokyo is that it would have destroyed the imperial government leaving no one to order an official surrender, though I am sure there are many other reasons!
Hiroshima met these criteria and was selected as the primary target for the bomb. Nagasaki, another Japanese city with military significance, was chosen as a backup target in case the first bombing was unsuccessful.
Of course, there was a human toll to this decision as well. When the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, tens of thousands of people were killed instantly. Many more would die in the days and weeks to come from radiation sickness and other injuries. The decision to drop the bomb was not made lightly, and it continues to be a topic of debate and controversy to this day.
The Bombing and Its Immediate Aftermath:
The Moment of Impact: Descriptions and Accounts of the Bombing
One of the most iconic images of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima is the mushroom cloud that formed after the bomb was dropped. Witnesses describe seeing a bright flash of light followed by a massive explosion. Within seconds, a cloud of smoke and debris rose up into the sky, eventually forming the distinctive mushroom shape.
Hold onto your hats, folks! The blast wave from the atomic bomb was an absolute monster! It was so powerful that it flattened entire buildings and uprooted trees like they were mere blades of grass. And get this, the force of the blast was so strong that it created a wind that could knock people off their feet from miles away! Can you even imagine?!
Survivors of the bombing offer truly heart-wrenching accounts of the destruction. Some describe being hurled through the air like rag dolls by the force of the blast wave. Others recall the intense heat and flames that engulfed the city, leaving everything in its path charred and unrecognizable.
But the aftermath of the bombing was even more devastating. Thousands of injured and dying people cried out for help in the streets, with no one to turn to. It was a scene of unimaginable horror and despair, one that we must never forget.
The Human Toll: Casualties and Survivors
The exact number of casualties from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima is very, very, very difficult to determine, considering that we do not know whether that means the immediate deaths or the deaths that came as a consequence of long-term radiation, but it is estimated that around 140,000 people died as a result of the bombing. This includes both those who died immediately after the bombing and those who died in the weeks, months, and years that followed due to injuries and radiation sickness.
There were also a significant number of survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, which you may find surprising! Many of them suffered from long-term health problems as a result of their exposure to radiation. It is estimated that around 100,000 people survived the bombing, but many of these individuals faced significant challenges in the years that followed.
The long-term effects of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima are incredibly (not in a good way) still being felt today. Survivors of the bombing and their children & grandchildren etc. continue to experience health problems as a result of their exposure to radiation. The incidence of cancer and other illnesses is higher among survivors of the bombing than among the general population.
Rebuilding and Recovery
The Road to Recovery: Rebuilding Hiroshima
Rebuilding Hiroshima was no easy task. The city was left in ruins after the atomic bomb was dropped, and it took years of hard work and dedication to get it back on its feet. But the people of Hiroshima and engineers and architects from all around were up for the challenge. They rolled up their sleeves, put on their hard hats, and got to work.
The first step was to clear the debris from the bomb blast. It was a daunting task, but with the help of volunteers and heavy machinery, the rubble was eventually removed. Then came the task of rebuilding homes, businesses, and infrastructure. New roads were constructed, bridges were rebuilt, and buildings were erected from the ground up. The city now stands as a memorial of what happened that fateful day in 1945, the day that marked the end of the war.
Extra: How Does an Atomic Bomb Work?
Right kids, let’s get science-y.
The atomic bomb is a highly complex and powerful weapon that harnesses the energy released by nuclear reactions to create a devastating explosion. At the heart of an atomic bomb is a device called a nuclear fission reactor, which splits atoms apart to release an enormous amount of energy.
One example of an atomic bomb is Little Boy, which was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in August 1945( wait a minute, you know all about that event now don’t you?) Little Boy consisted of a uranium-235 core that was surrounded by a tamper made of beryllium and a casing made of aluminum. The bomb was dropped from an airplane at a height of approximately 1,900 feet and detonated by a uranium gun.
The detonation process begins when the bomb is dropped from an airplane and falls toward the ground. As it falls, it is armed and the firing mechanism is activated. Once the bomb reaches a specific height above the target, it detonates.
The detonation causes a chain reaction of nuclear fission, in which the uranium-235 atoms in the bomb’s core are split apart by neutrons. This releases a tremendous amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation, creating a massive explosion that destroys everything in its path.
The energy released by the atomic bomb is measured in terms of the equivalent mass of TNT that would be required to release the same amount of energy. In the case of Little Boy, the explosion released approximately 15 kilotons of TNT-equivalent energy, which is equivalent to the explosive power of 15,000 tons of TNT.
The effects of the atomic bomb are devastating and long-lasting. The explosion generates a blast wave that can destroy buildings and infrastructure for miles around, as well as a massive fireball that incinerates everything in its path. The radiation released by the explosion can cause serious health problems and even death for those who are exposed to it.
Understood all of that? Well done and thanks for reading.
Robert J. Oppenheimer: “I am become death, the destroyer of worlds”
