Nuclear Bomb Simulator — Interactive Impact Map
Visualize nuclear explosion destruction zones on an interactive map. Select a weapon and an impact point on any US city.
Bomb dropped on Hiroshima, August 6, 1945
Or click directly on the map to move the impact point.
Coordinates: 40.7128, -74.0060
Explosion yield
15 kT
Equivalent to 1.0 times Hiroshima
Total destruction radius: 2245 ft (684 m)
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Detailed impact zones
Fireball
Total vaporization. Nothing survives.
Lethal radiation (500 rem)
Lethal radiation dose. Death within hours to weeks.
Heavy blast (20 psi)
Reinforced concrete destroyed. Near-total destruction.
Moderate blast (5 psi)
Residential buildings collapsed. Massive fires.
3rd degree burns
Severe burns on exposed skin. Spontaneous fires.
Light blast (1 psi)
Windows shattered, light damage. Injuries from debris.
Disclaimer: This simulator is an educational tool based on nuclear explosion physics formulas (Hopkinson scaling law, Glasstone & Dolan data). The radii shown are theoretical approximations for an optimal airburst detonation. Actual effects depend on many factors: detonation altitude, topography, weather, building types. This simulator does not account for radioactive fallout.
Understanding Nuclear Explosion Effects
A nuclear explosion produces several devastating effects that propagate in concentric circles around ground zero. The range of each effect depends on the bomb's yield, measured in kilotons (kT) or megatons (Mt) of TNT equivalent.
The 6 Impact Zones
Fireball
Temperature of several million degrees. Everything is instantly vaporized: buildings, vehicles, people. For Hiroshima (15 kT), the fireball measured about 600 feet in radius.
Lethal Radiation (500 rem)
Lethal dose of initial radiation. Exposed individuals develop acute radiation syndrome and die within hours to weeks. Beyond this zone, radioactive fallout remains dangerous for days.
Heavy Blast (20 psi)
Even reinforced concrete buildings are destroyed. The overpressure of 20 psi flattens everything in its path. Near-total fatality rate (~90%).
Moderate Blast (5 psi)
Residential buildings collapse. Massive fires break out. Approximately 50% fatality rate. This is the zone where most Hiroshima casualties occurred.
3rd Degree Burns
Thermal radiation causes severe burns on all exposed skin. Flammable materials (wood, fabric, paper) ignite spontaneously, creating massive secondary fires.
Light Blast (1 psi)
All windows shatter, causing numerous injuries from flying glass debris. Light structural damage. Survival chances are good with quick shelter.
Hopkinson's Scaling Law (Cube Root Scaling)
Effect radii follow Hopkinson's scaling law: the destruction radius is proportional to the cube root of the yield. This means a bomb 1,000 times more powerful doesn't have a 1,000 times larger radius, but only 10 times larger (cube root of 1,000 = 10).
R = R₀ × (Y / Y₀)^(1/3)
R = radius, Y = yield in kT, R₀ and Y₀ = reference values
Nuclear Arsenals Worldwide (2026)
~6,200
Russia
Strategic + tactical warheads
~5,500
United States
Full nuclear triad
~350
China
Rapidly expanding arsenal
~290
France
SSBN + Rafale ASMPA
~225
United Kingdom
Trident submarines
~170
Others (India, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea)
Estimates
Nuclear Threats in 2026: Iran Crisis & Global Tensions
The escalating Iran nuclear crisis has brought nuclear preparedness back to the forefront of public discourse. With Iran's uranium enrichment program advancing and diplomatic tensions rising, experts warn that the risk of nuclear conflict or a dirty bomb attack is at its highest point since the Cold War.
The Doomsday Clock, maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, remains near its closest-ever position to midnight. Key risk factors include:
- Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and IAEA inspections standoff
- Russia-NATO tensions and tactical nuclear weapons doctrine
- North Korea's expanding ICBM and warhead program
- US-China strategic competition in the Pacific
- Modernization of nuclear arsenals by all nine nuclear states
Understanding the potential effects of nuclear weapons is crucial for emergency preparedness. This simulator uses established physics formulas to provide educational estimates of blast, radiation, and thermal effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between kilotons and megatons?
A kiloton (kT) equals 1,000 tons of TNT. A megaton (Mt) equals 1 million tons of TNT, or 1,000 kT. Hiroshima (15 kT) was a small bomb compared to modern warheads (100-300 kT) or the Tsar Bomba (50,000 kT = 50 Mt).
How far away is safe from a nuclear explosion?
For a 300 kT warhead (standard strategic weapon), severe damage extends about 3 miles and shattered windows about 10 miles. Beyond 12 miles, direct blast effects are negligible. However, radioactive fallout can contaminate areas over 60 miles away depending on wind and weather conditions.
Why doesn't this simulator show radioactive fallout?
Fallout depends on highly variable factors: wind direction and speed, humidity, detonation altitude, and soil composition. Modeling it would require real-time weather data. This simulator focuses on immediate effects (blast, heat, initial radiation) which can be calculated using physics formulas.
Is the United States a nuclear target?
The US is protected by its own nuclear deterrent (second-strike capability) and the world's most powerful conventional military. Its nuclear submarine fleet (SSBNs) is undetectable and can retaliate even if the homeland is struck. This retaliatory capability makes any nuclear attack on the US theoretically "suicidal" for the attacker — this is the principle of deterrence (MAD: Mutually Assured Destruction).
What should you do in a nuclear emergency?
1) Get inside a solid building immediately (basement, underground parking). 2) Close all doors and windows, shut off ventilation. 3) Stay away from windows and lie flat. 4) Never look at the explosion. 5) Stay sheltered for at least 24 hours. 6) Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or AM/FM emergency broadcasts for official instructions. 7) Do not go outside until authorities say it's safe.