oat suffered from extensive radiation poisoning leading to the formation of “clean” hydrogen bombs, those without fallout. Fallout in general refers to radioactively charged dust, mud and anything else kicked up by the explosion of a hydrogen bomb (World Book vol.9 416). This fallout can be carried for miles and miles on the wind and inflict severe radiation damage. The Russians exploded their first hydrogen bomb October 30, 1961, followed by China and France in 67’ and 68’ respectively (World Book 416 vol.9). More devastating than the fallout is the initial damage inflicted by the detonation. With a 10 megaton hydrogen bomb, relatively small, complete destruction is achieved within the first four miles. In the extended 5 6/10 miles heavy damage would be incurred, and moderate damage in a 6-12 mile radius (World Book 416 vol.9). To explain the “size,” or relative destruction of a hydrogen bomb the unit of megatons is used. One megaton is the equivalence of one million tons of TNT exploding. In theory a hydrogen bomb can be infinitely expanded, but in reality 100 megatons is the norm. The first Russian test nuke was 58 megatons, or 116,000,000 lbs. of TNT. When detonated the Hydrogen bomb inflicts damage on may different planes: shockwaves are emitted form the displacement of large amounts of matter in a minute period of time, along with these come gale force winds many times faster than the largest hurricanes, intense heat, equivalent to the surface of the sun is produced, and radiation that penetrates all matter in its path is hurled forth.“If a great number of countries come to have an arsenal of nuclear weapons, then I’m glad I’m not a young man and I’m sorry for my grandchildren” (Beres 74). The question of the ability of countries to control their nuclear arsenals has been an impending one for many years. Nuclear warfare with the hydrogen bomb would have...
