Manhattan Project Research Paper

The Manhattan Project was one of the most important science and engineering project in history. It was also one of the most closely guarded projects. The Manhattan Project developed the atom bomb that ended World War II. The Manhattan Project was started because of Albert Einstein’s letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). The letter was intended to warn FDR about Nazi Germany developing a powerful new bomb. Then on October 11, 1939 Alexander Sachs met with FDR to discuss a letter Einstein had sent. FDR took the warning seriously, then on May 12, 1942 FDR signed an order putting the Manhattan Project into effect. 6,000 dollars was the first allotted amount to start research in 1942. (Today that is about 91,000 dollars). At the end of the project

Only 0.7% percent of natural uranium is Uranium-235, the isotope used in the production of atomic bomb. This means that Uranium-235 has to be separated from the more common isotope Uranium-238.Plutonium is also used in the production of atom bombs. Plutonium-239 does not occur naturally, and has a high fission rate, which increases the chances of it sustaining a nuclear reaction. To produce Plutonium-239, a reactor is needed. Special methods were developed to obtain the necessary isotopes. In the Manhattan Project, gaseous diffusion Electromagnetic Separation, and chemical separation was used. Chemical separation uses irradiated or radiated small uranium disks that are dunked in water, then transported to be chemically separated. Gaseous Diffusion relied on the theory that a lighter isotope will pass through a heavier one. Gaseous diffusion needs to have a porous barrier, and utilizes one of the most corrosive gases in the world, uranium hexafluoride. When the pipes were being sealed for that were needed for gaseous diffusion, a new sealant had to be developed. Grease would have interfered with the process, so Teflon was created. The downfall of gaseous diffusion are it required large tubing, and if not handled correctly, uranium hexafluoride can leak out. Electromagnetic separation is when a spectrograph to send a

In Hiroshima between 60,000 and 80,000 people died instantly, and more people died in the days to come because of radiation poisoning .The final death toll was around In Nagasaki 40,000 people died immediately and 50,000 lives were lost. After the detonations of the atom bombs, a substance called fallout was made, mixed with carbon residue from the fires that burned black rain was created. It is dark in color, sticky and poisonous, and is ingested by inhaling it, and eating contaminated food and drinking contaminated water. The initial radioactivity caused adverse health effects, such as leukemia, and other cancers. Radiation could alter how a cell works, the structure of the cell, or prevent cells from normal functions. Years after the bombing, genetic disorders were visible in children. Microcephaly caused a smaller than normal head circumference, and smaller brain size. Extra fingers and toes were on children whose parents were affected the atomic blast, because of the genetic condition Polydactyly, and club