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Jenanime4eva
Hi guys. I was wondering what are your thoughts on how the atomic bomb has made an impact in science?
Jenanime4eva said:Hi guys. I was wondering what are your thoughts on how the atomic bomb has made an impact in science?
E = mc^2 rules all energy and matter, not just nuclear energy. The Bomb was not a result of knowing that equation, but of knowing the fissile properties of the uranium nucleus. The investigations into that matter were done by Otto Hahn and Lise Meitner.Schrodinger's Dog said:I'm more interested in the impact it had on politics. But it was a natural development from E=mc^2 really, so sooner or later we were bound to harness the power to destroy our world. I think quantum mechanics in general owes a debt to it as it no doubt funded a lot of physicists research, directly and indirectly.
jimmysnyder said:E = mc^2 rules all energy and matter, not just nuclear energy. The Bomb was not a result of knowing that equation, but of knowing the fissile properties of the uranium nucleus. The investigations into that matter were done by Otto Hahn and Lise Meitner.
Integral said:The major impact on science was not the bomb itself, but the process required to develop the bomb. It was the first big dollar scientific project. It left behind a huge infrastructure of labs and scientists. It is this that why it is the major development of the 20th century. The development of the bomb was made possible by all work done on QM by many different scientists in the first 30yrs of the century.
Peter Hiatt said:I think the computer will eventually be more correctly identified as the turning point of the 20th Century. For the bomb calculations, the "computers" were human.
Jenanime4eva said:Some good opinions here guys.
Do you think the atomic bomb acted as a catalyst for "big science" i.e. projects of a huge scale and funding, or do you reckon "big science" existed before the advent of the atomic bomb?
Clearly big science existed before the "atomic bomb", which was based upon the results of many scientists who explored the nature of matter. Just look at the Nobel prizes in Chemistry and Physics prior to World War II. Perhaps the war changed priorities - and afterward - 'Big Science' just got bigger.Jenanime4eva said:Some good opinions here guys.
Do you think the atomic bomb acted as a catalyst for "big science" i.e. projects of a huge scale and funding, or do you reckon "big science" existed before the advent of the atomic bomb?
Peter Hiatt said:Germany set a great example of big government spending in science causing great things to happen. Unfortunately for them, they had a ghoul for a leader.
Astronuc said:Clearly big science existed before the "atomic bomb", which was based upon the results of many scientists who explored the nature of matter. Just look at the Nobel prizes in Chemistry and Physics prior to World War II. Perhaps the war changed priorities - and afterward - 'Big Science' just got bigger.
Without the war, perhaps national rivalries would have spurred growth of big science, but it's hard to say. We can't change history and explore alternatives. We can only guess/speculate about what might have been or what might be IF.
The atomic bomb had a significant impact on the development of nuclear science. The research and experimentation that went into creating the atomic bomb led to a deeper understanding of nuclear reactions and the potential uses of nuclear energy. It also spurred the development of new technologies and techniques for handling and studying nuclear materials.
The immediate effects of the atomic bomb on scientific research were twofold. On one hand, the devastation caused by the bomb highlighted the destructive power of nuclear weapons and led to increased research on nuclear disarmament and arms control. On the other hand, the successful detonation of the atomic bomb also encouraged further research and investment in nuclear science and technology.
The atomic bomb had a profound impact on the field of physics. It provided concrete evidence for many theories and principles in physics, including Einstein's famous equation E=mc². The atomic bomb also spurred advancements in particle physics, quantum mechanics, and other areas of study related to nuclear reactions and energy.
The atomic bomb had a significant impact on the scientific community. It led to collaboration and exchange of knowledge among scientists from different countries and disciplines, as well as increased government funding for scientific research. It also sparked ethical debates about the responsibility of scientists in developing and using such powerful technology.
The long-term effects of the atomic bomb on science and society are complex and far-reaching. On one hand, it spurred advancements in nuclear science and technology, leading to the development of nuclear power and medical applications. On the other hand, the use of atomic bombs in war also raised concerns about the consequences of nuclear proliferation and the ethical implications of using such devastating weapons.