AM <mix...@bigpond.com> wrote:
If all the fission energy in 20 lb. of Pu239 were released it would be over
> 175000 tons of TNT.
>
I do not think it is possible to release all of the energy from the fission
explosion fuel.
> If the bomb only yields 20 tons it is incredibly inefficient. I would
> expect
> more like 20000 tons.
>
I think that was deliberate. They did not want a big explosion because the
rocket only flew a few miles. Modern fusion bombs have variable yield
("dial-a-yield") meaning they waste fuel at the lower yields.
- Jed
