The Real Scale(s) of a Nuclear Weapon - A reality check

If you can't view the video I apologize in advance. In a short summary the video gives a evolutionary destription of the power of nuclear weapons over the past few decades. The sheer power and destructive force of just one nuclear bomb can do to a "whole" country depending on the size of said country.




It makes you think twice about talking about launching a nuclear missile since in the end result would essentially wipe out one entire "Country" or a large percentage based on the geographical size of land.

Please feel free to comment. I don't know about you but knowing there are over 14,000 nuclear primed missiles all over the world with that much power, it is pure insanity. It is the world we live in.

It is also why we must stop at all costs the proliferation of the bomb.

North Korea is the most obvious example of such power in the hands of mad men.

Sometimes progress is a bad thing. The nuclear bomb has definitely not brought us anything good.

a reply to: 4N0M4LY

We are all so dead. Why do we give any legitimacy to any government on this planet.

Here's another video to make your day:

www.youtube.com...

originally posted by: dfnj2015
a reply to: 4N0M4LY

We are all so dead. Why do we give any legitimacy to any government on this planet.

Here's another video to make your day:

www.youtube.com...

I will definitely check it out. Thank you.

a reply to: markosity1973

NK leader will do anything to project his so called power accross his borders.

a reply to: 4N0M4LY

Here is another good way of finding out about nuclear weapon yields.

nukemap

originally posted by: hutch622
a reply to: 4N0M4LY

Here is another good way of finding out about nuclear weapon yields.

nukemap

Wow that's awesome! Good info to go by, thank you much. I will be playing with this one for a bit.

originally posted by: 4N0M4LY
Also our current nuclear weapons are so powerful we could essentially demolish Mount Everest in one attempt.

No. Not at all. In fact, total bull#.

Not to say that nukes aren't devastating to people and their infrastructure, but, you know, just no.

As your putative nuke grows in yield, more and more of it ends up in the stratosphere until over a few megatons and you're wasting your time. You most certainly can't obliterate a huge chunk of granite. The optimum yield for a nuke is less than 200kT.

a reply to: Bedlam

So I was incorrect on that. My mistake. At least it still can put a sizable dent in it.

a reply to: Bedlam

That was a very MIRVing post, I understand what you were trying to convey.

a reply to: hutch622

If anyone cares, the Tsar Bomba would take out me and my whole family. Why are people so obsessed with nuking NYC?

originally posted by: dfnj2015
Why are people so obsessed with nuking NYC?

Because they are all jealous of the Yankees.

originally posted by: 4N0M4LY
a reply to: Bedlam

So I was incorrect on that. My mistake. At least it still can put a sizable dent in it.

Not even that. Again, not trying to minimize the damage you can cause with a nuke to cities, but you just can't do a lot to mountains. People tend to either minimize or maximize by several orders of magnitude what you can get with a nuclear weapon.

Grant you, if you're not up on weapon effects it's sort of nebulous.

a reply to: 4N0M4LY

I doubt an "all out" nuclear exchange will ever happen. Russia is no longer run by a crazy quasi-religion that was called collectivism and viewed the West as a spiritual enemy. Nowadays it's all about power and money, and they know darn well they'll have neither if they are dead.

What concerns me is the more likely ways nukes will be used. Imagine of a religious group did manage to set off even a small nuke in one US city. That alone would be pretty bad. Then the day after, they post a video clearly and calmly explaining that they have smuggled a second nuke into the US somewhere. That's it. That's all they'd have to say. Absolute bedlam would ensue. Very very few people would have the grit just to sit tight and call their bluff. The cities would empty out overnight. The highways would jammed from coast to coast with people fleeing this way and that in a panic. There would be upheaval, food shortages, and riots. That would just take one nuke, followed up by one taciturn video posted YouTube.

originally posted by: dfnj2015
a reply to: hutch622

If anyone cares, the Tsar Bomba would take out me and my whole family. Why are people so obsessed with nuking NYC?

I guess NYC would be the first city to go considering the economic powerhouse resides there and the population that lives there in the millions.

WASH DC would be a second choice by default. It's just how it goes I suppose.

originally posted by: dfnj2015
a reply to: hutch622

If anyone cares, the Tsar Bomba would take out me and my whole family. Why are people so obsessed with nuking NYC?

It's biblical, you know.

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

a reply to: dfnj2015

Why are people so obsessed with nuking NYC?

You can move the blast to wherever you want , just drag the pointer .

a reply to: hutch622

I got that. You link was awesome. But NYC is the default. You would think Texas would be a bigger target for terrorism because of the oil fields.

originally posted by: olddognewtricks
a reply to: 4N0M4LY

I doubt an "all out" nuclear exchange will ever happen. Russia is no longer run by a crazy quasi-religion that was called collectivism and viewed the West as a spiritual enemy. Nowadays it's all about power and money, and they know darn well they'll have neither if they are dead.

What concerns me is the more likely ways nukes will be used. Imagine of a religious group did manage to set off even a small nuke in one US city. That alone would be pretty bad. Then the day after, they post a video clearly and calmly explaining that they have smuggled a second nuke into the US somewhere. That's it. That's all they'd have to say. Absolute bedlam would ensue. Very very few people would have the grit just to sit tight and call their bluff. The cities would empty out overnight. The highways would jammed from coast to coast with people fleeing this way and that in a panic. There would be upheaval, food shortages, and riots. That would just take one nuke, followed up by one taciturn video posted YouTube.

Its kinda funny how all it would take is a religious cult obsessed with the end times to essentially bring about the end times with one small yield nuke in a city and an empty threat about using a second. Yeah that would do it.

Edit: Makes me want to dig a hole underneath my house and use it as my unofficial "nuke" shelter. Although where I live at, the blast radius is still 20 miles away. The sheer chaos that would be in my neighborhood though.

Here's a reality check,

I am 46 years old.

Lived in the nuclear world all my life.

And guess wut ?

I'm not dead yet.