Today, nine countries have nuclear weapons - some have dozens of missiles, while others have thousands. In any case, it is enough for one nuclear power to press the red button for real hell to come on the entire planet. Therefore, it will be useful for everyone to know about the centers of nuclear damage, damaging factors and how to increase their chances of surviving an explosion.
Affecting factors
In the Soviet Union, thanks to the lessons of the NVP, every schoolchild was well aware of the danger posed by this type of weapon. Alas, today most people only know from films how nuclear weapons work. The centers of nuclear destruction destroy cities and villages, disable any complex equipment, inflict terrible damage on people - both at the time of the explosion, and in the following days and even years. Therefore, it is extremely important to know about them.
There are five damaging factors that accompany a nuclear explosion. Let's talk about each of them in more detail, so that the reader has an idea aboutpotential threat.
Shockwave
One of the most visible and powerful factors. It is its formation that takes about half the power of any nuclear bomb or missile. It spreads at the speed of sound, so in a matter of seconds it destroys any buildings and all infrastructure hundreds of meters or even several kilometers from the epicenter.
Having fallen under the shock wave, a person simply does not have the slightest chance of survival. The temperature at the epicenter can reach several million degrees - even hotter than the Sun. In addition, the explosion generates a powerful pressure of millions of atmospheres, capable of flattening and distorting even the most powerful tank like an empty tin can.
You can hide within the range of the shock wave only if you are in a specially equipped bunker, and it must be located significantly below ground level, that is, not in the path of the impact.
Light emission
The second most powerful damaging factor - it takes up to 35% of the charge energy. It spreads at the speed of light, and it can act for a long time - from tenths of a second to 10-15 seconds - it depends on the power of the bomb.
Its source is the glowing area at the epicenter. Influencing people, it can cause not only eye damage, leading to temporary or permanent blindness, but also burns of varying severity.
However, radiation affects not only living organisms - high temperatures oftenleads to fires, which further increases the power of destruction.
Electromagnetic pulse
It is observed in any nuclear explosion, but the greatest danger is in cases where the bomb explodes at a height of 40 kilometers or more. In this case, it is able to cover a huge area. It acts instantly as it spreads at the speed of light.
It is a side effect of a nuclear explosion, so it uses almost no power. A person does not even notice this - neither immediately, nor subsequently. But all the complex equipment is out of order. Any microcircuits and semiconductors burn out instantly. This is because an electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, causes powerful induced currents that destroy electronic devices.
Protect equipment from it is possible only by reliable shielding with metal sheets.
Penetrating radiation
Present in nuclear explosions of any type, but in neutron munitions it is the main damaging factor.
The explosion releases gamma rays and neutrons, the flow of which spreads in different directions over a distance of 2-3 kilometers. In this case, the ionization of air, people and any objects occurs. When it enters the ground, it makes the ground radioactive.
Approximately 5% of the power of the explosion goes exactly to the formation of this damaging factor.
Radioactive contamination
In fact, radioactive contamination is a side effect of nuclear explosions, proving their ineffectiveness. The only exceptionare "dirty" bombs that deliberately infect an area, making it uninhabitable for a certain period.
The reason for the appearance is part of the nuclear fuel that did not have time to split, fragments of the fission of the atoms of the nuclear fuel.
It infects the ground lifted into the air by an explosion, the latter can spread along with wind currents over a huge distance - hundreds of kilometers. Represents a considerable threat in the early days and especially hours. After that, the danger of induced radiation is sharply reduced.
In modern rockets, no more than 10% of the power goes to the share of radioactive contamination. Therefore, they are very different from the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where only a small part of the radioactive substance reacted - the rest was simply scattered over the territory, infecting it for a long time.
Focus zone
Now let's talk about the characteristics of a nuclear lesion. Each explosion has a certain power, which depends on the charge. The types of missiles themselves also differ - there are conventional, neutron, hydrogen and others.
But every explosion has a zone of nuclear destruction. The closer to the epicenter, the more destruction and less chance of survival.
- The zone of complete destruction occupies no more than 10% of the total area of the outbreak. But there is no chance to survive here. People are killed by penetrating radiation, inhuman pressure, very high temperatures. The destruction is complete - nothing can withstand such a blow. But there are no fires - the shock wave is completelyknocks out the flame. In the absence of wind, radioactive dust settles here, reducing the chances of survival of people who managed to hide in a safe shelter.
- Zone of severe destruction - its area also does not exceed 10% of the area of the entire hearth. The buildings were not completely destroyed, but they are completely unrecoverable. Fires can be both point and continuous - depending on the presence of combustible materials. Penetrating radiation, temperature and blast wave also leave people no chance of survival. And sometimes death does not come immediately, but after a few minutes or even hours.
- The zone of medium destruction significantly exceeds the area described above, accounting for about 20% of the area of the source. Buildings are badly damaged, but can be restored. Fires can cover large areas. People receive wounds of varying severity - from penetrating radiation, shock waves and light radiation. But there are chances to survive - if you do not stay in open areas for a long time. Otherwise, radioactive poisoning will lead to a slow and extremely painful death.
- The zone of weak destruction has the most extensive area - up to 60%. Buildings receive minor damage that can be repaired with current repairs. Injuries in people are relatively minor - burns of the 1st degree of severity, contusions. The greatest danger here is not the nuclear explosion itself, but the radioactive dust raised into the air. Only she can kill a person at such a significant distance from the epicenter of the explosion.
Well, in order to increase the chances of survival, you need to know about the actions of the population in the focus of nuclear destruction.
How to behave in the hearth
As practice shows, with a successful combination of circumstances, a person has a chance, albeit a tiny one, to survive even in the epicenter of the explosion, in the zone of complete destruction. Let's talk about some rules of behavior in the focus of nuclear destruction, which can save the life of the reader.
First of all, at the first alarm signal, you need to look for shelter. The deeper it is, the better - you can not guess exactly where the blow will be struck. Therefore, a basement of a multi-storey building, a cellar in the yard or a sewer shaft are suitable. It is desirable that it be closed relatively tightly - this will not only reduce the harm from penetrating radiation, but also protect against radioactive dust, which is the most important. Alas, penetrating radiation will have to be put up with, hoping that the radiation will not be too strong - few people have the habit of finishing the basement or cellar with sheets of lead.
Ideally, you should prepare a supply of food and water that will last at least a few days. At this time, in no case should you leave the shelter. After the explosion, the power of radiation from dust and irradiated objects will drop rapidly.
When leaving the shelter (not earlier than 3-5 days after the explosion, if possible), it is necessary to protect the respiratory organs. A gas mask is best, but in a pinch you can usean ordinary respirator or even a dense cloth moistened and wrapped around the face. When leaving the radioactive zone, it should be disposed of - it can be radioactive.
Conclusion
This concludes our article. Now you know more about nuclear weapons, the damaging factor and the approximate zones of destruction. At the same time, we read about actions in the focus of a nuclear lesion, which can significantly increase the likelihood of survival.
