DEVELOPING THE ATOMIC BOMB A.K.A. "LITTLE BOY" AND "FAT MAN"
At the start of World War II in 1939 the atomic bomb had not yet been invented.
However, scientists discovered about that time that a powerful explosion might
be possible by splitting an atom. This type of bomb could destroy large cities
in a single blast and would change warfare forever.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein came up with many of the theories
that helped scientists in making the atomic bomb. When he realized that such a
bomb could be made, he was frightened about what might happen if Hitler and
Germany learned how to make the bomb first. He wrote a letter to US President
Franklin Roosevelt telling him about the atom bomb. As a result, Roosevelt set
up the Manhattan Project.
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was the name for the research and development program for the
atomic bomb. It started small, but as the bomb became more real, the United
States added scientists and funding to be sure they were the first to have the
bomb. Ironically, many of the scientists involved in making the bomb had
defected from Germany. By the end of the project, funding had reached $2 billion
and there were around 200,000 people working on the project.
The First Atomic Bomb
On July 16, 1945 the first atomic bomb was exploded in the New Mexico desert.
The explosion was massive and the equivalent to 18,000 tons of TNT. Scientists
figured that the temperature at the center of the explosion was three times hotter
than at the center of the sun.
Although the scientists were happy they had successfully made the bomb, they
also were sad and fearful. This bomb would change the world and could cause mass
destruction and death. When President Harry Truman heard of the bomb's success
he wrote "We have discovered the most terrible bomb in the history of the
world".
Deciding to Drop the Bomb
By the time the first
atomic bomb had been made, Germany had already surrendered and World War II in
Europe was over. Japan was defeated as well, but would not
surrender. The US was contemplating an invasion of Japan. Army leaders figured
that anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million US and Allied soldiers would die in an
invasion. President Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb instead.
Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945 an atomic bomb named Little
Boy was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. The explosion was huge, the city was
destroyed, and tens of thousands of people were killed. The bomb was dropped by
a plane named the Enola Gay which was piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbetts. The bomb
itself was over 10 feet long and weighed around 10,000 pounds. A small parachute
was on the bomb in order to slow its drop and allow the plane time to fly away
from the blast zone.
The Little Boy Atomic Bomb
Nagasaki
Despite witnessing the terrible destruction of the bomb on Hiroshima, Emperor
Hirohito and Japan still refused to surrender. Three days later, on August 9,
1945, another atomic bomb, nicknamed Fat Man, was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.
Again the devastation was horrible.
Surrender
Six days after the bombing of Nagasaki, Emperor Hirohito and Japan surrendered to US
forces. The Emperor announced this on the radio. It was the first time most
Japanese had heard his voice.
Interesting Facts:
However, scientists discovered about that time that a powerful explosion might
be possible by splitting an atom. This type of bomb could destroy large cities
in a single blast and would change warfare forever.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein came up with many of the theories
that helped scientists in making the atomic bomb. When he realized that such a
bomb could be made, he was frightened about what might happen if Hitler and
Germany learned how to make the bomb first. He wrote a letter to US President
Franklin Roosevelt telling him about the atom bomb. As a result, Roosevelt set
up the Manhattan Project.
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was the name for the research and development program for the
atomic bomb. It started small, but as the bomb became more real, the United
States added scientists and funding to be sure they were the first to have the
bomb. Ironically, many of the scientists involved in making the bomb had
defected from Germany. By the end of the project, funding had reached $2 billion
and there were around 200,000 people working on the project.
The First Atomic Bomb
On July 16, 1945 the first atomic bomb was exploded in the New Mexico desert.
The explosion was massive and the equivalent to 18,000 tons of TNT. Scientists
figured that the temperature at the center of the explosion was three times hotter
than at the center of the sun.
Although the scientists were happy they had successfully made the bomb, they
also were sad and fearful. This bomb would change the world and could cause mass
destruction and death. When President Harry Truman heard of the bomb's success
he wrote "We have discovered the most terrible bomb in the history of the
world".
Deciding to Drop the Bomb
By the time the first
atomic bomb had been made, Germany had already surrendered and World War II in
Europe was over. Japan was defeated as well, but would not
surrender. The US was contemplating an invasion of Japan. Army leaders figured
that anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million US and Allied soldiers would die in an
invasion. President Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb instead.
Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945 an atomic bomb named Little
Boy was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. The explosion was huge, the city was
destroyed, and tens of thousands of people were killed. The bomb was dropped by
a plane named the Enola Gay which was piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbetts. The bomb
itself was over 10 feet long and weighed around 10,000 pounds. A small parachute
was on the bomb in order to slow its drop and allow the plane time to fly away
from the blast zone.
The Little Boy Atomic Bomb
Nagasaki
Despite witnessing the terrible destruction of the bomb on Hiroshima, Emperor
Hirohito and Japan still refused to surrender. Three days later, on August 9,
1945, another atomic bomb, nicknamed Fat Man, was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.
Again the devastation was horrible.
Surrender
Six days after the bombing of Nagasaki, Emperor Hirohito and Japan surrendered to US
forces. The Emperor announced this on the radio. It was the first time most
Japanese had heard his voice.
Interesting Facts:
- The lead scientist on the Manhattan Project was J. Robert Oppenheimer. He is
often called the "father of the atomic bomb". - The first bomb dropped on Hiroshima was made from uranium. The bomb dropped on Nagasaki was made
from plutonium, which was even more powerful than
uranium. - It is thought that at least 135,000 people died from the Hiroshima explosion
and another 70,000 in Nagasaki. Many of these people were civilians including
women and children. - Hiroshima was chosen because it was a large port city with an army base. It
also had not been damaged much by earlier bombings. This would show just how
powerful the new weapon was.