ABSTRACT

In a nuclear explosion the energy released arises from the formation of different atomic nuclei by the redistribution of the protons and neutrons within the interacting nuclei. Thus, what is sometimes described as atomic energy is really nuclear energy since it arises from particular nuclear reactions. The two kinds of nuclear interactions that produce large amounts of energy in a short time are the processes of 'fission', or splitting of (heavy) atoms such as those of certain isotopes of uranium, and 'fusion', or joining together of (light) atoms such as the hydrogen isotope deuterium.