The Manhattan ProjectThe Manhattan Project

The A-BombsThe A-Bombs

The ScientistThe Scientist

The CitiesThe Cities

What was the What was the Manhattan ProjectManhattan Project??

In 1938 many people feared that Hitler would build In 1938 many people feared that Hitler would build an atomic bomb after word spread that German an atomic bomb after word spread that German scientist had split the uranium atom (fission). scientist had split the uranium atom (fission). However, one of Hitlers mistakes was his However, one of Hitlers mistakes was his persecution of Jewish scientists. This persecution persecution of Jewish scientists. This persecution resulted in numerous scientists seeking asylum in resulted in numerous scientists seeking asylum in the United States. One such scientist was Albert the United States. One such scientist was Albert Einstein. Einstein, abandoning his belief in pacifism, Einstein. Einstein, abandoning his belief in pacifism, urged then president Franklin Roosevelt to develop urged then president Franklin Roosevelt to develop an atomic bomb before Hitler did. Eventually an atomic bomb before Hitler did. Eventually Roosevelt agreed and the United States attempt at Roosevelt agreed and the United States attempt at building the atomic bomb was codenamed building the atomic bomb was codenamed The The Manhattan ProjectManhattan Project..

The Manhattan Project was carried out in The Manhattan Project was carried out in extreme secrecy. By 1945, the project had extreme secrecy. By 1945, the project had nearly 40 labratories and factories which nearly 40 labratories and factories which empolyed approximately 200,000 people. empolyed approximately 200,000 people. Among these employees were some of the Among these employees were some of the greatest scientist that have ever lived. greatest scientist that have ever lived. Included in this lot were Albert Einstein, Included in this lot were Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi, Richard Feynman, J. Robert Enrico Fermi, Richard Feynman, J. Robert Openheimer, and Harold Urey (and this is Openheimer, and Harold Urey (and this is but a hand full of the many).but a hand full of the many).

Robert OppenheimerRobert Oppenheimer In June 1942, Robert Oppenheimer was appointed its In June 1942, Robert Oppenheimer was appointed its

director. Preliminary research was being done at director. Preliminary research was being done at Columbia University, the University of Chicago, and in Columbia University, the University of Chicago, and in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, but Oppenheimer set up a new Oak Ridge, Tennessee, but Oppenheimer set up a new research station at Los Alamos, New Mexico. There he research station at Los Alamos, New Mexico. There he brought the best minds in physics to work on the brought the best minds in physics to work on the problem of creating an atomic bomb. In the end he was problem of creating an atomic bomb. In the end he was managing more than three thousand people, as well as managing more than three thousand people, as well as tackling theoretical and mechanical problems that tackling theoretical and mechanical problems that arose. arose.

On July 16, 1945, Oppenheimer witnessed the first On July 16, 1945, Oppenheimer witnessed the first explosion of an atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert. explosion of an atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert. "We knew the world would not be the same," he said. "We knew the world would not be the same," he said. Within a month, two atomic bombs were dropped on Within a month, two atomic bombs were dropped on Japanese cities. Japan surrendered on August 10, Japanese cities. Japan surrendered on August 10, 1945.1945.

After the war, Oppenheimer chaired the U.S. Atomic After the war, Oppenheimer chaired the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. He opposed developing an even Energy Commission. He opposed developing an even more powerful hydrogen bomb. When President more powerful hydrogen bomb. When President Truman finally approved it, Oppenheimer did not argue, Truman finally approved it, Oppenheimer did not argue, but his initial reluctance and the political climate turned but his initial reluctance and the political climate turned against him. In 1953, at the height of U.S. against him. In 1953, at the height of U.S. anticommunist feeling, Oppenheimer was accused of anticommunist feeling, Oppenheimer was accused of having communist sympathies, and his security having communist sympathies, and his security clearance was taken away. He had, in fact, had friends clearance was taken away. He had, in fact, had friends who were communists, mostly people involved in the who were communists, mostly people involved in the antifascist movement of the thirties. This loss of security antifascist movement of the thirties. This loss of security clearance ended Oppenheimer's influence on science clearance ended Oppenheimer's influence on science policy. He held the academic post of director of the policy. He held the academic post of director of the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton, and in the last Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton, and in the last years of his life, he thought and wrote much about the years of his life, he thought and wrote much about the problems of intellectual ethics and morality. He died of problems of intellectual ethics and morality. He died of throat cancer in 1967.throat cancer in 1967.

Enrico FermiEnrico Fermi Fermi's early work on the statistical distribution Fermi's early work on the statistical distribution

of elementary particles led him to divide these of elementary particles led him to divide these atomic constituents into two groups, known as atomic constituents into two groups, known as fermions and bosons, depending on their spin fermions and bosons, depending on their spin characteristics. This division is now accepted as characteristics. This division is now accepted as standard. His subsequent work on radioactivity standard. His subsequent work on radioactivity and atomic structure involved experiments on and atomic structure involved experiments on the production of artificial radioactivity by the production of artificial radioactivity by bombarding matter with neutrons, for which he bombarding matter with neutrons, for which he received the 1938 Nobel Prize for physics. In received the 1938 Nobel Prize for physics. In collaboration with other eminent scientists, collaboration with other eminent scientists, Fermi experimented with nuclear fission at Fermi experimented with nuclear fission at Columbia University. This work culminated in Columbia University. This work culminated in the first sustained nuclear reaction, on Dec. 2, the first sustained nuclear reaction, on Dec. 2, 1942, at the University of Chicago. Further work 1942, at the University of Chicago. Further work at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory led to the at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory led to the construction of the atomic bomb. After the war, construction of the atomic bomb. After the war, Fermi accepted a post at the newly established Fermi accepted a post at the newly established Institute for Nuclear Studies at the University of Institute for Nuclear Studies at the University of Chicago and continued his work in the field of Chicago and continued his work in the field of neutron physics.neutron physics.

*Source: 1998 Grolier Multimedia Ency*Source: 1998 Grolier Multimedia Ency

Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein The General Theory of RelativityThe General Theory of Relativity After 1905, Einstein continued working in three major areas of After 1905, Einstein continued working in three major areas of

physics. He made important contributions to the quantum physics. He made important contributions to the quantum theory, but increasingly he sought to extend the special theory theory, but increasingly he sought to extend the special theory of relativity to phenomena involving acceleration. The key to an of relativity to phenomena involving acceleration. The key to an elaboration emerged in 1907 with the principle of equivalence, in elaboration emerged in 1907 with the principle of equivalence, in which gravitational acceleration was held a priori which gravitational acceleration was held a priori indistinguishable from acceleration caused by mechanical indistinguishable from acceleration caused by mechanical forces; gravitational mass was therefore identical with inertial forces; gravitational mass was therefore identical with inertial mass. Einstein elevated this identity, which is implicit in the mass. Einstein elevated this identity, which is implicit in the work of Isaac Newton, to a guiding principle in his attempts to work of Isaac Newton, to a guiding principle in his attempts to explain both electromagnetic and gravitational acceleration explain both electromagnetic and gravitational acceleration according to one set of physical laws. In 1907 he proposed that according to one set of physical laws. In 1907 he proposed that if mass were equivalent to energy, then the principle of if mass were equivalent to energy, then the principle of equivalence required that gravitational mass would interact with equivalence required that gravitational mass would interact with the apparent mass of electromagnetic radiation, which includes the apparent mass of electromagnetic radiation, which includes light. By 1911, Einstein was able to make preliminary predictions light. By 1911, Einstein was able to make preliminary predictions about how a ray of light from a distant star, passing near the about how a ray of light from a distant star, passing near the Sun, would appear to be attracted, or bent slightly, in the Sun, would appear to be attracted, or bent slightly, in the direction of the Sun's mass. At the same time, light radiated direction of the Sun's mass. At the same time, light radiated from the Sun would interact with the Sun's mass, resulting in a from the Sun would interact with the Sun's mass, resulting in a slight change toward the infrared end of the Sun's optical slight change toward the infrared end of the Sun's optical spectrum. At this juncture Einstein also knew that any new spectrum. At this juncture Einstein also knew that any new theory of gravitation would have to account for a small but theory of gravitation would have to account for a small but persistent anomaly in the perihelion motion of the planet persistent anomaly in the perihelion motion of the planet Mercury.Mercury.

Trinity Test SiteTrinity Test Site In 1945 the United States covert In 1945 the United States covert

operation known as The operation known as The Manhattan Project achieved its Manhattan Project achieved its goal - to create the first atomic goal - to create the first atomic bomb. Since its inception in bomb. Since its inception in 1939, scientist had struggled to 1939, scientist had struggled to find a way to harness the power find a way to harness the power of of fissionfission. Through the combined . Through the combined efforts of many, a test bomb efforts of many, a test bomb known as "Fat Boy" was finally known as "Fat Boy" was finally created. On July 16, 1945 in a created. On July 16, 1945 in a desert in New Mexico the worlds desert in New Mexico the worlds first nuclear test, codenamed first nuclear test, codenamed Trinity, was conducted and Trinity, was conducted and ushered in the Atomic Age. The ushered in the Atomic Age. The Trinity test success led to the Trinity test success led to the creation of two more atomic creation of two more atomic bombs that would be used in bombs that would be used in WWII.WWII.

The The Enola GayEnola Gay On August 6, 1945 the American B-29 On August 6, 1945 the American B-29

bomber known as the Enola Gay bomber known as the Enola Gay released the first atomic bomb to be released the first atomic bomb to be used in warfare. The 9,000 pound bomb used in warfare. The 9,000 pound bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" detonated in nicknamed "Little Boy" detonated in Hiroshima, Japan. "Little Boy's" Hiroshima, Japan. "Little Boy's" explosion was catastrophic and resulted explosion was catastrophic and resulted in 66 thousand instantanous deaths. in 66 thousand instantanous deaths. Total vaporization from the blast Total vaporization from the blast measured one half a mile in diameter. measured one half a mile in diameter. Total destruction ranged one mile in Total destruction ranged one mile in diameter and serious blazes extended as diameter and serious blazes extended as far as three miles in diameter.far as three miles in diameter.

Three days after the release of "Little Three days after the release of "Little Boy" a second bomb named "Fat Man" Boy" a second bomb named "Fat Man" was released on the town of Nagasaki. was released on the town of Nagasaki. "Fat Man" weighed 10,000 pounds and "Fat Man" weighed 10,000 pounds and annihilated nearly half of the city. In one annihilated nearly half of the city. In one split-second, the population of Nagasaki split-second, the population of Nagasaki dropped from 422,000 to 383,000. As dropped from 422,000 to 383,000. As astonishing as this seems, scientist astonishing as this seems, scientist estimate that both "Little Boy" and "Fat estimate that both "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" only utilized 1/10th of 1 percent of Man" only utilized 1/10th of 1 percent of their explosive capabilities.their explosive capabilities.

Little BoyLittle Boy

Fat ManFat Man

Little Boy and Fat ManLittle Boy and Fat Man

HiroshimaHiroshima

NagasakiNagasaki

The HypocenterThe Hypocenter At 11:02 a.m., August 9, 1945 an At 11:02 a.m., August 9, 1945 an

atomic bomb exploded 500 meters atomic bomb exploded 500 meters above this spot. The black stone above this spot. The black stone monolith marks the hypocenter.monolith marks the hypocenter.The fierce blast wind, heat rays The fierce blast wind, heat rays reaching several thousand degrees, reaching several thousand degrees, and deadly radiation generated by the and deadly radiation generated by the explosion crushed, burned and killed explosion crushed, burned and killed everything in sight and reduced this everything in sight and reduced this entire area to a barren field of rubble. entire area to a barren field of rubble. About one-third of Nagasaki City was About one-third of Nagasaki City was destroyed and 150,000 people killed or destroyed and 150,000 people killed or injured, and it was said at the time that injured, and it was said at the time that this area would be devoid of this area would be devoid of vegetation for 75 years. Now, the vegetation for 75 years. Now, the hypocenter remains as an international hypocenter remains as an international peace park and a symbol of the peace park and a symbol of the aspiration for world harmony.(from aspiration for world harmony.(from Monumental inscription of hypocenter)Monumental inscription of hypocenter)