In early 1939 scientists found out that German scientists knew how to split a uranium atom, this raised fear because of the possibility that the Nazi’s could produce mass destruction with a bomb. Scientists who fled persecution, like Albert Einstein agreed to inform president Roosevelt about the dangers of atomic technology. In late 1941 the American effort to produce an atomic bomb received the name, “The Manhattan Project.” In the beginning research was conducted at Columbia University, Berkeley, and the University of Chicago. The first controlled nuclear chain reaction was done at the University of Chicago under the grandstands of Stagg Field. A nuclear chain reaction is when one reaction causes one or more nuclear reaction. The main assembly
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His first task was to calculate the mass of Uranium-235, which was the amount of uranium needed to sustain a chain reaction. He calculated this at Lawrence's Radiation Laboratory at Berkeley. In November of 1942 Oppenheimer became the appointed director of the Los Alamos laboratory, which is where they would design and construct the atomic bomb. General Leslie Groves elected him because he was an effective organizer and he could easily comprehend scientific ideology. In the end, Oppenheimer was managing more than 3,000 people, he was also tackling theoretical and mechanical problems at hand. After they dropped the bomb in Nagasaki, Japan and Hiroshima the war was essentially over. After seeing the mass destruction, however, Oppenheimer argued against the use of nuclear bombs and resigned from his post that …show more content…
Many scientists were Jewish so they fled to the United States, such as Albert Einstein. Eventually Roosevelt agreed to start construction of the atomic bomb. They named this the Manhattan Project. Truman decided to drop two atomic bombs before the Japanese surrendered. Many people were involved with the Manhattan Project. For example, Robert Oppenheimer, President Truman, and General Groves. This project was under extreme secrecy until the bombs were dropped. After seeing the devastation of the nuclear bombs Oppenheimer stepped down from his post and other scientists followed. They said the world was not yet ready for the use of nuclear
His first task was to calculate the mass of Uranium-235, which was the amount of uranium needed to sustain a chain reaction. He calculated this at Lawrence's Radiation Laboratory at Berkeley. In November of 1942 Oppenheimer became the appointed director of the Los Alamos laboratory, which is where they would design and construct the atomic bomb. General Leslie Groves elected him because he was an effective organizer and he could easily comprehend scientific ideology. In the end, Oppenheimer was managing more than 3,000 people, he was also tackling theoretical and mechanical problems at hand. After they dropped the bomb in Nagasaki, Japan and Hiroshima the war was essentially over. After seeing the mass destruction, however, Oppenheimer argued against the use of nuclear bombs and resigned from his post that …show more content…
Many scientists were Jewish so they fled to the United States, such as Albert Einstein. Eventually Roosevelt agreed to start construction of the atomic bomb. They named this the Manhattan Project. Truman decided to drop two atomic bombs before the Japanese surrendered. Many people were involved with the Manhattan Project. For example, Robert Oppenheimer, President Truman, and General Groves. This project was under extreme secrecy until the bombs were dropped. After seeing the devastation of the nuclear bombs Oppenheimer stepped down from his post and other scientists followed. They said the world was not yet ready for the use of nuclear