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How much do you know about the history of the atomic bomb? Find out by taking this quiz!

A multiple-choice quiz by sunshine7. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
sunshine7

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
136,341

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1772

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What famous scientist signed a letter notifying President Roosevelt that German experiments proved that a prompted nuclear action was possible and may be used to construct an extremely powerful bomb? Hint

Jonas Salk

Albert Einstein

James Watson

Thomas Edison

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Question 2 of 10

2. What country pooled their scientific knowledge with the United States in creating the atomic bomb? Hint

Canada

China

Russia

Britain

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Question 3 of 10

3. Enrico Fermi demonstrated the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in a lab under the squash court at what university? Hint

University of Chicago

University of Tennessee at Memphis

University of California at Berkeley

Harvard University

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Question 4 of 10

4. After viewing the detonation of the first atomic bomb at Project Trinity, who is known to have said "I am become Death, Shatterer of Worlds"? Hint

Harry S Truman, U.S. President

General Thomas Farrell, the Deputy to Director of Manhattan Project General Leslie Groves

Dr. Kenneth Bainbridge, the Director of Trinity Site

Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, the Director of Los Alamos

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Question 5 of 10

5. On August 9, 1945, the bomb known as "Fat Man" was detonated over what Japanese city?

Answer: (Spelled as it sounds)

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Question 6 of 10

6. During Operation Crossroads in 1946, how many nuclear bombs were tested at Bikini Atoll in order to test the effect of atomic bombs on naval vessels? Hint

Two

Three

One

Four

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Question 7 of 10

7. By late 1948, the U.S. had how many atomic bombs? Hint

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Question 8 of 10

8. When did the Soviet Union detonate its first nuclear device? Hint

May 1950

July 1951

September 1948

August 1949

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who was the only scientist to quit the Manhattan Project? Hint

Dr. George Bogdan Kistiakowsky

Dr. James Chatwick

Dr. Joseph Rotblat

Dr. Hans Albrecht Bethe

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which scientist died during the course of the Manhattan Project? Hint

Dr. Louis Slotin

Dr. James B. Conant

Dr. Norris Bradbury

Dr. Vannevar Bush

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Albert Einstein

In 1929, Albert Einstein declared himself a pacifist. In 1933, with the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany, he no longer considered himself an "absolute pacifist". Physicists in Germany split the uranium atom in December 1938. This event (along with Germany's aggression against other countries) caused physicists, primarily Leo Szilard and Eugene Wigner, to worry that Germany was seeking to create an atomic bomb.

They approached Einstein about sending a letter to President Roosevelt warning of this and Einstein agreed to sign the letter as it was deemed his signature would have the most influence.

2. What country pooled their scientific knowledge with the United States in creating the atomic bomb?

Answer: Britain

Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt agreed the atom bomb project would occur on U.S. soil as Britain was under constant air attack and faced the threat of invasion.

3. Enrico Fermi demonstrated the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in a lab under the squash court at what university?

Answer: University of Chicago

Fermi accomplished this in December, 1942. A nuclear chain reaction produces energy that can either be converted to electricity or used in an atomic bomb.

4. After viewing the detonation of the first atomic bomb at Project Trinity, who is known to have said "I am become Death, Shatterer of Worlds"?

Answer: Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, the Director of Los Alamos

Oppenheimer is often called "The Father of the Atomic Bomb". He headed the team of physicists who worked on creating the first atomic bomb. Early in the Manhattan project, it was feared an atomic bomb could ignite the earth's atmosphere and dissolve oceans. Oppenheimer proved this would not occur.

5. On August 9, 1945, the bomb known as "Fat Man" was detonated over what Japanese city?

Answer: Nagasaki

Kokura, Japan was the original target for this bomb. However, bad weather forced the secondary target of Nagasaki to be chosen. Nagasaki housed a Mitsubishi torpedo producing plant which is one reason why Nagasaki was chosen as a target.

6. During Operation Crossroads in 1946, how many nuclear bombs were tested at Bikini Atoll in order to test the effect of atomic bombs on naval vessels?

Answer: Two

One bomb was dropped on July 1 below water and another was dropped July 25 above water. 70 ships and submarines holding test animals were anchored in the Bikini Atoll lagoon. Five ships sank in the above water test and nine in the below water test.

7. By late 1948, the U.S. had how many atomic bombs?

Answer: 50

By this time the U.S. was able to successfully mass-produce bombs instead of assembling each bomb by hand. Also bomb design evolved to create smaller and more efficient bombs than those dropped on Japan.

8. When did the Soviet Union detonate its first nuclear device?

Answer: August 1949

This occurred on August 29. U.S. scientists were surprised Russia was able to accomplish this as soon as they did. The U.S. then proceeded to beef up its atom bomb production.

9. Who was the only scientist to quit the Manhattan Project?

Answer: Dr. Joseph Rotblat

Dr. Joseph Rotblat quit the project in November 1944, when it was determined Nazi Germany would not be able to build the bomb. He returned to his home in England. After the war, he created the first big exhibition of peaceful uses for nuclear energy. He was fervently against the creation and use of nuclear weapons. In 1995, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

10. Which scientist died during the course of the Manhattan Project?

Answer: Dr. Louis Slotin

In 1946 - the Project continued till 1946, Dr. Louis Slotin conducted an experiment in which he brought two globes of plutonium together until they were only separated by a screwdriver. During the experiment, the globes touched and set off a nuclear reaction which caused radiation to fill the room. Dr. Slotin forced the globes apart with his hands to stop the reaction. By succeeding in separating the globes, he saved seven of his co-workers.

However, he got a lethal dose of radiation and died.

Source: Author sunshine7

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