Odd request about a nuclear blast

[fatal xception]

My wife is spooked about all the threats being made for Memorial day and 4th of July.

Here in Phoenix, there is a nuclear reactor about 45 miles west of Phoenix.

I have been trying to convince my wife that:

1. Luke airforce base is right near the site, so the threat of an aircraft flying into it is extremely remote

2. The blast wouldn't effect us since we live on the far southeastern side of Phoenix (Mesa).

She is unconvinced and I can't find any information on what the blast would be like or its radius.

Anyone have any ideas so she can sleep at night?

Thanks.

[jman01pa]

This may help

http://www.pacificgrove.com/localnew/blast2001.html



I worked with ICBM's in the Air force and had real hard core data on this stuff. I will see what I can dig up...

Maybe not. You wanted reactors not weapons.


J

[HomeYield]

Nuclear reactors made in the US were made to withstand a direct nuclear blast and never even feel it. I've worked with a civil engineer who helped to develop the some of the nuclear reactor housings in my area and from what they said those things could take almost twice the power of any current nukes and barely make a dent in the structure. Even a meltdown from the inside wouldn't be a problem.

Things like what happened in Chernobyl (sp?) Russia just can't happen over here. A plane flying into one of those reactors would be like a flea flying into your back. It may make a mark on the outside but it ain't gonna do nothing to the inside.

[SickPup404]

I *THINK* any "blast" would NOT be like any kind of thermonuclear detonation, but more along the lines of the "dirty bomb". IE - the explosion would be conventional, but the fallout would be radioactive.

This comes from a mainframe COBOL programmer with ZERO nuclear physics training!

[daveleau]

We lived near the Savannah River nuclear facility for a while (90 miles north) and we worried about it a bit. It is so old and decrepid, from what I have heard (media reports, so take it with a grain of "media-doomsday" salt. This is interesting. Thanks for the info.

[Epidemic]

I disagree with that with standing a direct nuclear blast thing. They are built to withstand roughly a 2000 lb bomb. this includes the payload of general aviation aircraft packed with explosives would be close to cracking the dome. at least that is what I was told.

[zgf2022]

Well from what little i understand i would agree with sickpup.
The explosion would be conventional.

if i remember right to get a real thermonuclear blast the conditions have to be very exact and a plane or missle wouldnt be able to produce those conditions.

(or am i wrong?)

[Lemon]

The material inside a nuclear reactor is not weapons grade material. It can't explode.

[fatal xception]

Originally posted by Lemon
The material inside a nuclear reactor is not weapons grade material. It can't explode.

This what I have been gathering. OK, maybe I should amend my question:

If something should happen, what could the possible impact to someone who lives approx. 100 miles away? We are often downwind of this site.

For those who have responded so far, I really appreciate your info.

[Epidemic]

Were it to be hit at a range of 100 miles I would think that you could leave the area prior to wind borne fallout. I.e. if the wind was moving at around 50 mph you would have to be gone in 2 hours. In 25 mph wind 4 hours. However I would think that evacuation would be prudent.

of course that depends on wind direction in most cases the wind probably would not be heading directly towards you so response time would probably be much greater.

risks at 100 miles also would depend on the velocity of the wind and the quantity of radioactive material transported to your location. Strong winds probably would bring more debris. So you risk at 100 miles would be of long term illnesses. Ya know the Big C and so forth.