Manhattan Manhattan ProjectProjectDeveloping the Atomic Developing the Atomic

BombBomb

A Presentation by Aude Girin and Bria CollinsA Presentation by Aude Girin and Bria Collins

Objectives:Objectives: The purpose of The purpose of

this this presentation is presentation is to inform you to inform you of the of the development of development of the first atomic the first atomic bomb.bomb.

Manhattan ProjectManhattan Project

The Manhattan The Manhattan project not only project not only helped bring an helped bring an end to World War end to World War II, but it also II, but it also advanced the advanced the knowledge of the knowledge of the atomic age and atomic age and determined how determined how future wars would future wars would be fought.be fought.

This was a project This was a project to develop the to develop the first atomic bomb first atomic bomb during World War during World War II.II.

““Manhattan Manhattan Project” was a Project” was a code name to code name to keep the project keep the project concealedconcealed..

The project The project involved roughly involved roughly 125,000 people and 125,000 people and cost more than $2 cost more than $2 billion, yet it billion, yet it remained top secret remained top secret throughout WWII.throughout WWII.

Project research Project research and productions and productions sites took place all sites took place all across the United across the United States.States.

Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein

In 1939, Albert In 1939, Albert Einstein wrote a Einstein wrote a letter to President letter to President Franklin Roosevelt Franklin Roosevelt warning that warning that Germany was Germany was secretly trying to secretly trying to develop an atomic develop an atomic bomb and urged bomb and urged U.S to do likewise.U.S to do likewise.

Einstein’s LetterEinstein’s Letter

President Franklin President Franklin RooseveltRoosevelt

Roosevelt wrote Roosevelt wrote Einstein back Einstein back informing him that he informing him that he immediately set up a immediately set up a committee to begin committee to begin atomic research.atomic research.

FDR believed the FDR believed the United States could United States could not take the risk of not take the risk of waiting and allowing waiting and allowing Hitler to have the Hitler to have the power of developing power of developing the first atomic bomb.the first atomic bomb.

LocationsLocations

Research and Research and production sites of production sites of the Manhattan the Manhattan Project were located Project were located all across the United all across the United States.States.

Laboratories and Laboratories and manufacturing manufacturing facilities were facilities were secretly constructed secretly constructed just for project.just for project.

Main project research locations of the United StatesMain project research locations of the United States

People People Many people were Many people were

involved in the project involved in the project including including administrators, administrators, researchers, scientists, researchers, scientists, and more.and more.

Top picture: Albert Einstein and Top picture: Albert Einstein and Leo SzilardLeo Szilard

Bottom Picture: J. Robert Bottom Picture: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and

Ernest LawrenceErnest Lawrence

J. Robert OppenheimerJ. Robert Oppenheimer Oppenheimer eagerly Oppenheimer eagerly

joined the project at joined the project at Lawrence's Radiation Lawrence's Radiation Laboratory at Laboratory at Berkeley.Berkeley.

In June 1942 he was In June 1942 he was appointed the scientific appointed the scientific director of the Project.director of the Project.

He managed over He managed over 3,000 people and is 3,000 people and is often referred as the often referred as the “father” of the atomic “father” of the atomic bomb.bomb.

Enrico FermiEnrico Fermi

Born in Italy, Fermi Born in Italy, Fermi created a nuclear created a nuclear fission chain fission chain reaction, which was reaction, which was critical to creating critical to creating the atomic bomb. the atomic bomb.

In 1944, he joined In 1944, he joined the Manhattan the Manhattan Project and was the Project and was the overseer of the overseer of the scientists.scientists.

Ernest LawrenceErnest Lawrence During WWII, During WWII,

Lawrence was in Lawrence was in charge of the charge of the electromagnetic electromagnetic separation work at separation work at Oak Ridge which Oak Ridge which provided uranium 235 provided uranium 235 for the atomic bomb .for the atomic bomb .

He was known as the He was known as the “Atomic Smasher” “Atomic Smasher” and the man who and the man who “held the key” to “held the key” to atomic energy.atomic energy.

The Trinity TestThe Trinity Test On July 16, 1945, the On July 16, 1945, the

first atomic bomb was first atomic bomb was exploded at the exploded at the Alamogordo air base Alamogordo air base near Albuquerque, NM.near Albuquerque, NM.

A ball of fire rose A ball of fire rose rapidly, followed by a rapidly, followed by a mushroom cloud mushroom cloud extending to 40,000 feet.extending to 40,000 feet.

The bomb generated an The bomb generated an explosive power explosive power equivalent to 20,000 equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT.tons of TNT.

SuccessSuccess The Trinity Test The Trinity Test

resulted in great resulted in great success.success.

This was the world’s This was the world’s first ever atomic first ever atomic explosion.explosion.

After President Harry After President Harry Truman received the Truman received the word, he knew the word, he knew the atomic bomb would atomic bomb would create a great create a great advantage in World advantage in World War II.War II.

Truman in Potsdam, Germany after receiving word that the Trinity Test was a success.

Use of Atomic Bombs in Use of Atomic Bombs in WWIIWWII

It was finally decided to It was finally decided to use the atomic bomb in use the atomic bomb in the war and two more the war and two more atomic bombs were atomic bombs were created by the project.created by the project.

The uranium “Little The uranium “Little Boy” bomb was dropped Boy” bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.6, 1945.

The plutonium “Fat The plutonium “Fat Boy” bomb was dropped Boy” bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.9, 1945.

ConclusionConclusion

President Harry President Harry Truman’s decision to Truman’s decision to drop the atomic drop the atomic bomb is one of the bomb is one of the most controversial most controversial issues in American issues in American History.History.

The creation of the The creation of the Atomic Bomb helped Atomic Bomb helped bring an end to bring an end to World War II.World War II.

LinksLinks http://www.cfo.doe.gov/me70/manhahttp://www.cfo.doe.gov/me70/manha

ttan/index.htmttan/index.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/science/30manh.html?_r=2&oref=slscience/30manh.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=sloginogin&oref=slogin

http://www.britannica.com/eb/articlehttp://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9050535/Manhattan-Project -9050535/Manhattan-Project

http://www.atomicarchive.com/Histohttp://www.atomicarchive.com/History/mp/index.shtmlry/mp/index.shtml