In reply to Jed Rothwell's message of Fri, 22 Jun 2018 10:08:41 -0400:
Hi,
[snip]
>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.
1) I was trying to imply that the "20 tons" may have been a typo.
2) You have switched from fission to fusion.
3) Even if the 20 tons figure was correct, and deliberate, it would leave nearly
all the Pu239 intact, implying quite a radioactive mess spread around the
environment and into the air, just 20 miles away.
I wouldn't want to be downwind of that.
>
>- Jed
Regards,
Robin van Spaandonk
local asymmetry = temporary success
