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The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of [[Hiroshima]] and [[Nagasaki]], bringing World War II to a swift and decisive end. The morality of the use of the bombs is debated, because it caused such huge loss of civilian life (140,000 at Hiroshima, 70,000 at Nagasaki). U. S. officials have said that the entire cities were proper military targets, and that because the bombings ended the war so quickly, fewer Japanese civilians were killed than if the bombs had not been used.

The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of [[Hiroshima]] and [[Nagasaki]], bringing World War II to a swift and decisive end. The morality of the use of the bombs is debated, because it caused such huge loss of civilian life (140,000 at Hiroshima, 70,000 at Nagasaki). U. S. officials have said that the entire cities were proper military targets, and that because the bombings ended the war so quickly, fewer Japanese civilians were killed than if the bombs had not been used.

The atomic bomb detonates with a massive explosion due to the release of energy in atoms.  Specifically, neutrons in a rapid chain reaction split the nuclei of a heavy chemical element, such as plutonium or uranium, to cause the massive release of energy.

The atomic bombs used at Hiroshima and Nagasaki were "fission" weapons, which detonate with a massive explosion due to the release of the binding energy in within the nucleus of the atom.  Specifically, neutrons in a rapid chain reaction split the nuclei of a heavy chemical element, such as plutonium or uranium, to cause the massive release of energy.

                             [[Image:Abomb.jpg]]

                             [[Image:Abomb.jpg]]