Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Trout · 01-12-2005, 12:38 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/395689.stm

Is a Neutron Bomb the Sickest Weapon Ever Made?

Jimmy Higgins · 01-12-2005, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trout

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/395689.stm

Is a Neutron Bomb the Sickest Weapon Ever Made?

Not if you jump into a swimming pool... I think. Neutron radiation can only be stopped by similar particle sizes... ie hydrogen atoms. If a neutron bomb goes off, get in a large body of water!

Amen-Moses · 01-12-2005, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Higgins

Not if you jump into a swimming pool... I think. Neutron radiation can only be stopped by similar particle sizes... ie hydrogen atoms. If a neutron bomb goes off, get in a large body of water!

It's gamma rays, 2ft of solid lead shielding or 18ft of concrete is required.

Or about 5000 ft of water, the deep diving record is about 200 or so.

Amen-Moses

Dark Knight Bob · 01-12-2005, 02:06 PM

Nuclear bombs without any "oomph" to them hold no place of interest in my science world.

I declare these things therefore as evil.

But seriously. That's pretty crazy stuff. I mean we're well beyond countries trying to show who's got the biggest penis here.

Quote:

Not if you jump into a swimming pool... I think

Don't believe everything you see in those action movies. Gamma rays are WAY more powerful than that.

Loren Pechtel · 01-12-2005, 02:14 PM

Since when does a neutron bomb release most of it's energy as gamma radiation??

I don't see that it's inherently any worse than ordinary nukes. Why blow up the infrastructure if you don't need to?

Rob0t X · 01-12-2005, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loren Pechtel

I don't see that it's inherently any worse than ordinary nukes. Why blow up the infrastructure if you don't need to?

becuase it makes the bomb more likely to be used. especially to an administration or country that values resources over people.

look!!! we saved baghdad!!!

BDS · 01-12-2005, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winston_Smith

becuase it makes the bomb more likely to be used. especially to an administration or country that values resources over people.

look!!! we saved baghdad!!!

So weapons that are less destructive (and thus more likely to be used) are more horrendous than weapons that are MORE destructive? Based on this reason, the snow ball is the ultimate in horrible weaponry! It's so benign, that people throw them all the time! If only snow balls killed people, they wouldn't be thrown so often!

Naruto · 01-12-2005, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDS

So weapons that are less destructive (and thus more likely to be used) are more horrendous than weapons that are MORE destructive? Based on this reason, the snow ball is the ultimate in horrible weaponry! It's so benign, that people throw them all the time! If only snow balls killed people, they wouldn't be thrown so often!

Wow...just wow...

IanC · 01-12-2005, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Since when does a neutron bomb release most of it's energy as gamma radiation??

Neutrons density is attenuated by the atmosphere very quickly, but not so gamma, gamma will penetrate more and go further.

Wikipedia:

Quote:

These same authorities say that the common perception of the neutron bomb as a "landlord bomb" that would kill people but leave buildings undamaged is greatly overstated. At the conventional effective combat range (690 m), the blast from a 1 kt neutron bomb will destroy or damage to the point of inutility almost any civilian building. Thus the use of neutron bombs to stop an enemy attack, which requires exploding large numbers of them to blanket the enemy forces, would also destroy all buildings in the area.

Ian

Jimmy Higgins · 01-12-2005, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amen-Moses

It's gamma rays, 2ft of solid lead shielding or 18ft of concrete is required.

Or about 5000 ft of water, the deep diving record is about 200 or so.

Amen-Moses

Last time I checked, we were talking about a neutron bomb which is big on the neutron radiation. Having alot of concrete won't help you with neutron radiation.

01-12-2005, 12:38 PM	#1
Trout Contributor Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: the north Posts: 12,935	Neutron Bombs http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/395689.stm Is a Neutron Bomb the Sickest Weapon Ever Made?

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01-12-2005, 02:14 PM	#5
Loren Pechtel Obsessed Contributor Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Not Mayaned Posts: 96,752	Since when does a neutron bomb release most of it's energy as gamma radiation?? I don't see that it's inherently any worse than ordinary nukes. Why blow up the infrastructure if you don't need to?

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