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Re: Bombs



The biggest danger of a terrorist group (not a 'terrorist' nation) getting
and using a thermonuclear device would be if they stole one and then
re-engineered the detonation device. Our weapons (and presumably the
Soviet's as well) are designed to have some fail-safe components. For
example, a missile warhead has to go through the accelerations inherent to a
ballistic trajectory before the warhead will arm. Bombs meant to be dropped
from an airplane have to be dropped to arm. This protects the bombs from
accidents (missile fizzles or plane crashes on take-off) and also from
non-authorized people from stealing and using.

That being said, a clever group that would steal a weapon could probably rig
it to detonate in a static mode (see any number of James Bond movies or Tom
Clancy books).

Rick

*********************************************************
Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
********************************************************
Free Physics Educational Software (Win & Mac)
New software based on project below is now available.
www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html
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www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/ENERGY_PROJECT/ENERGY2100.htm
********************************************************
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jerry Lisantti" <lisantti@CENTENARY.EDU>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2003 9:31 AM
Subject: Re: Bombs


fission, fusion devices are much more difficult.

Jim Green wrote:

When the various terrorist groups (or perhaps college students) try to
make
a nuclear device. is it a fission or fusion device?

I wonder if the government will intercept this message. <g>

Jim Green
mailto:JMGreen@sisna.com
http://users.sisna.com/jmgreen

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