Nuclear weapons are designed to release energy explosively through nuclear fission, fusion, or both. Fission weapons, known as atomic bombs, derive their power from splitting atomic nuclei. Fusion weapons, or hydrogen bombs, release energy through the fusion of atomic nuclei. These devices can use either or both processes to achieve their explosive force.Nuclear weapons generate immense explosive energy, measured in kilotons and megatons equivalent to TNT. The Hiroshima bomb in 1945, with only about 64 kg of uranium, had the explosive power of 15 kilotons of TNT, producing a massive shock wave, intense heat, and lethal radiation. The resulting mushroom cloud and radioactive fallout caused unprecedented destruction and suffering. Since then, advancements have led to even more powerful nuclear weapons, prompting international efforts for arms control through treaties like the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The immense destructive capability of these weapons has given rise to a specialized field known as nuclear strategy
