In 1939, Allied scientists discovered that German scientists had discovered how to split a uranium atom which could create a destructive bomb. In an effort to beat the Germans to developing this bomb the Allies started the Manhattan Project in 1941. The project employed 120,000 people and cost $2 Billion. On July 16, 1945, the world's first nuclear bomb was detonated.
Then on August 6th, 1945 the United States dropped “Little Boy”. “Little Boy” used nuclear fission to detonate. Nuclear fission is when the nucleus of an atom breaks into smaller parts. “Little Boy” killed 80,000 people instantly when it detonated. In the aftermath of the explosion approximately 200,000 …show more content…
Some examples of accidents have happened in Canada. On February 13th, 1950, the United States was simulating a bombing of a Soviet city, and loaded up a plane with a nuclear bomb similar to the one used on Nagasaki. However, the bomb had a lead core instead of the core that would cause a nuclear explosion. The plane was to fly from Alaska, to Fort Worth, Texas. During the flight three engines caught fire over British Columbia and the plane began to fall. The crew decided to drop the bomb and have it explode three thousand feet above ground. The explosion had no nuclear fallout, but rained uranium down over the coast of British Columbia. The crew then abandoned the plane. The plane was found in 1953 in northern British