Nuclear weapons in vacuum

[johnmarkley]

In another thread, Mike Wong said:

I suspect he's one of these morons who doesn't realize that most of the force imparted by a nuclear blast in atmosphere is due to atmospheric interactions, and would not happen in space. In space, all you get is U/c for momentum.

Just how big would the difference in effect between nuclear bombs in space vs. in atmosphere be?

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

In another thread, Mike Wong said:

I suspect he's one of these morons who doesn't realize that most of the force imparted by a nuclear blast in atmosphere is due to atmospheric interactions, and would not happen in space. In space, all you get is U/c for momentum.

Just how big would the difference in effect between nuclear bombs in space vs. in atmosphere be?

Been done to death already. But I'll tell you anyway. In atmosphere, one of the most lethal effects of a nuclear weapon is the overpressure and the shockwave caused by the rapid heating of the atmosphere induced by the nuclear fireball. In space, there is no atmosphere to rapidly heat, so all you're left with is the hard radiation from the nuclear explosion.

[victorhadin]

You wouldn't even get anything significant in the way of an EMP pulse, as that relies on ionisation of particles in the atmosphere.



You have some shrapnel from the bomb and a bright flash and that is mroe or less where it would end. Naturally, the flash itself would be highly damaging, potentially, but considering that space vessels would likely be well-equipped to deal with high levels of radiation (I assume it refers to this) then damage would be minimal if the nuclear weapon was not in close proximity.

[Vympel]

Most sci fi vessels can handle it. Not Mimbari warcruisers though ... they die from a pair of 2 megaton bombs.

[Enlightenment]

~%90 of the weapon's yield will be emitted in a 1ms X-ray pulse. Computing the energy density delivered to a target at range X is a simple matter of using the inverse square law. Computing the total energy delivered to a target requires that its cross section be known and multiplied with the pulse's energy density at the target's range.

[kojikun]

I spoke with mike quite a while ago (since months before the board) about this. Indeed, the bad part would be the radiation thats not dampened by the atmosphere.

But, correct me if i'm wrong, would the superheated high-speed metal plasma resulting from the bomb casing be rather dangerous?

[Enlightenment]

But, correct me if i'm wrong, would the superheated high-speed metal plasma resulting from the bomb casing be rather dangerous?

There's so little mass in the bomb itself that if you're close enough that getting hit by fragments is a serious risk, you'd be cooked by the radiation anyway.

[Enforcer Talen]

so how does that work in their destrction of comets in assorted movies?

[Darth Wong]

But, correct me if i'm wrong, would the superheated high-speed metal plasma resulting from the bomb casing be rather dangerous?

It would be plasma.

[Darth Wong]

so how does that work in their destrction of comets in assorted movies?

If the blast occurs inside the asteroid or comet, the rapid superheating of the interior will cause enormous outward pressure which fractures its body. If the blast occurs outside the asteroid or comet, the radiation bombardment will rapidly boil off the surface of the body, thus pushing it backward and possibly causing it to break up if the force of acceleration exceeds that necessary to overcome its structural integrity.

[Master of Ossus]

But, correct me if i'm wrong, would the superheated high-speed metal plasma resulting from the bomb casing be rather dangerous?

Yes, at close range. Most nuclear devices are made of such small comparative masses that the amount of material that expands as the weapon detonates is fairly insignificant unless there's an object right next to the thing, or surrounding it. Even then, it's likely the radiation that would destroy it, instead of the remainder of the weapon.

[SyntaxVorlon]

so how does that work in their destrction of comets in assorted movies?

If the blast occurs inside the asteroid or comet, the rapid superheating of the interior will cause enormous outward pressure which fractures its body. If the blast occurs outside the asteroid or comet, the radiation bombardment will rapidly boil off the surface of the body, thus pushing it backward and possibly causing it to break up if the force of acceleration exceeds that necessary to overcome its structural integrity.

To note, this ONLY works on comets, iron, and expeccially stone asteroids would on the whole not really be affected. More likely the asteroid would be slowed but not much.
But you guys seem to be selling nukes a bit short, in space they would not be helped by the pressure wave, but they do put out a lot of heat. All this heat would not be encumbered by heat absorbing atmosphere so whatever is in the area would get VERY hot VERY fast, and since most space vessels are not equiped for anything more intense than direct sunlight then this superheating would occur for the craft. Even with the inverse square law, the Black Star was dead, d-e-d, dead when 2 dueces blew up in relative proximity.

[Darth Wong]

To note, this ONLY works on comets, iron, and expeccially stone asteroids would on the whole not really be affected. More likely the asteroid would be slowed but not much.

Incorrect. The yield requirement is simply higher for denser asteroids, but the mechanism works perfectly. Are you seriously arguing that the mechanism ceases to function for a rocky asteroid?

But you guys seem to be selling nukes a bit short, in space they would not be helped by the pressure wave, but they do put out a lot of heat.

Hard radiation, which has a heating effect. This has already been explained; what are you trying to say?

All this heat would not be encumbered by heat absorbing atmosphere so whatever is in the area would get VERY hot VERY fast, and since most space vessels are not equiped for anything more intense than direct sunlight then this superheating would occur for the craft. Even with the inverse square law, the Black Star was dead, d-e-d, dead when 2 dueces blew up in relative proximity.

Of course. That radiative heating effect is also why stand-off nuclear blasts will alter the trajectory of an asteroid. But if a ship has some kind of reflective shield technology, it is far easier to withstand a hard radiation pulse than a physical impact, where conservation of momentum dictates force coupling to the interior of the ship, with all of the attendant destructive consequences. Not that this applies to the Black Star ...

[Sokar]

Must we really dredge up the problems with the "Drala'fi" and her destruction

[Darth Wong]

Don't look at me; the Fiver was the guy who brought it up.

[Sokar]

I know, I just hate to beat dead horses....but some people seem to never learn.........