On August 6th, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. On August 9th, they dropped another one on Nagasaki. Upon reflection, some people have questioned the necessity of dropping two atomic bombs when only one was necessary to achieve the desired outcome. In this blog post, we will explore the difference between the two atomic bombs and whether or not a second was really necessary.
What is Hiroshima Atomic Bomb?
On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima was destroyed by the first atomic bomb ever dropped on a city. This “secret weapon” of the United States had an explosive power equal to 20,000 tons of TNT. The Hiroshima atomic bomb killed more than 70,000 people outright and injured another 35,000. Tens of thousands more would eventually die from burns and radiation poisoning. The Hiroshima atomic bomb was one aspect of America’s efforts to end World War II. U.S. President Harry Truman authorized the use of the atomic bomb after conventional bombing raids failed to destroy Japanese cities and convince the Japanese military to surrender. Despite the devastation caused by the Hiroshima atomic bomb, Japan did not immediately surrender. It was only after the Soviet Union declared war on Japan on August 8th and a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9th that Japan finally capitulated. The Hiroshima atomic bomb remains the only nuclear weapon to have been used in warfare.
What is Nagasaki Atomic Bomb?
The Nagasaki bomb, codenamed “Fat Man”, was a plutonium implosion-type device similar to the Trinity bomb tested in New Mexico on 16 July 1945. Nagasaki was the second city to be targeted by an atomic bomb, after the bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. The Nagasaki bomb was dropped by a B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, piloted by Major Charles Sweeney. It exploded with an energy of 21 kilotons at an altitude of around 500 meters (1,600 ft) above Nagasaki. The explosion caused extensive damage to Nagasaki, killing approximately 74,000 people outright and injuring a further 75,000. A large number of people also suffered from burns and radiation poisoning. The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is located in the city and serves as a memorial to the victims of the bombings.
Difference between Hiroshima Atomic Bomb and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb
- Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the only two cities in the world that have been hit by nuclear bombs. The Hiroshima bomb, known as “Little Boy,” was dropped on August 6, 1945. It exploded with the force of 16 kilotons of TNT, instantly killing 80,000 people. The Nagasaki bomb, known as “Fat Man,” was dropped on August 9, 1945. It exploded with the force of 21 kilotons of TNT, instantly killing 40,000 people. In total, over 210,000 people were killed by the two bombs.
- There are a few key differences between the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs. Firstly, the Hiroshima bomb was made with uranium-235, while the Nagasaki bomb was made with plutonium-239. Secondly, the Hiroshima bomb was dropped by an airplane, while the Nagasaki bomb was dropped by a balloon. Finally, the Hiroshima bomb exploded in the air, while the Nagasaki bomb exploded on the ground. These differences illustrate the destructive power of nuclear weapons.
Conclusion
The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a turning point in World War II, but the two bombings were very different.
