what is an atomic bomb made of?

The real "insides" are still classified; however, in general terms a nuclear fission device is made of fissionable material (U-235 for example), a way to push two pieces of material together to go from a subcritical mass to a critical mass, and an initiator device to start the flow of neutrons.

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An atomic bomb, also known as a nuclear bomb, is made primarily of two types of materials: fissile and non-fissile.

The core of an atomic bomb consists of fissile material, which is a substance capable of sustaining a nuclear chain reaction. The most commonly used fissile material in atomic bombs is enriched uranium-235 or plutonium-239. These materials are obtained by separating them from their natural forms using a process called uranium enrichment or plutonium extraction.

To initiate the nuclear chain reaction, a precisely determined amount of fissile material is compressed using conventional explosives. This compression creates a supercritical mass, where the neutrons released during the chain reaction increase exponentially. This leads to an uncontrolled release of energy.

To amplify the explosive power of the atomic bomb, non-fissile materials are added to the device. The non-fissile materials, often referred to as the tamper, can be made from elements like beryllium or lead. The tamper serves to reflect neutrons back into the fissile material, increasing the efficiency of the chain reaction and allowing more energy to be released.

In addition to the core and tamper, an atomic bomb may also include other components such as detonators, conventional explosives, and casing to contain the explosion and direct the energy towards the desired target.

It's important to note that due to the nature of atomic bombs being weapons of mass destruction, information regarding their construction is highly restricted and regulated to prevent misuse and ensure global security.