United States Naval Academy
The Effects of Nuclear Weapons
ER486A Spring 2016
Section 4001
12 January 2016
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Objective
Demonstrate a basic understanding of the effects of nuclear weapons. This includes: the history of the US
nuclear weapons program; weapons physics including assembly, fission, fusion, and kinetic disassembly; yield
calculations; radiation effects; fallout calculations and modeling; and US policy regarding nuclear weapons.
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Instructor
Maj Jeremy Best USMC
BS Aerospace Engineering, University of Oklahoma 2004
MS Nuclear Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology 2013
Office:
Office phone:
E-mail:
Phone:
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Chauvenet 273
410-293-6686
best@usna.edu
405-204-9549 (Valid ∼1700–2100)
Text
Glasstone & Dolan - 1977 (provided)
Swords of Armageddon - Hanson (provided electronically)
Introduction to the Physics of Nuclear Weapons Effects - Bridgman (selected sections provided)
The course web page is at: http://www.usna.edu/Users/physics/best/NewCourse.php
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Grading
Your grades will be calculated using the following percentages:
Final Grade
Progress Grade
Homework
Projects
Quizzes
Hour Exams
20%
25%
15%
40%
Homework
Projects
Quizzes
Hour Exams
Final Exam
15%
20%
10%
30%
25%
Letter grades are defined as normal: A > 90%, B > 80%, C > 70%, D > 60%
I reserve the right to adjust these guidelines by as much as 5% based on my judgment of your effort in this
course.
Should you fail the final exam, I reserve the right to fail you for the course. Do not assume your
current grade exempts you from applying yourself on an exam. There is never an excuse for lack of effort.
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5
Homework and Projects
You must demonstrate proficiency in technical subjects by applying your knowledge to solving problems.
Failure to turn in all assignments may result in me invoking the discretion clause above based on lack of
effort.
Late assignments will be accepted, but at a 50% credit deduction. Excessive numbers of late assignments
will affect my evaluation of your effort.
There will be approximately 5 projects during the semester. These are done in groups of 2, where the team
members must be different for each project. The projects will include a class presentation and could include
a written, documented paper if directed by me.
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Exams and Quizzes
We may do occasional quizzes. Most will be individual, closed book efforts. Quizzes can be on both recent
and less-recent material.
Chapter exams are graded with partial credit, where the work is worth substantially more than the correct
answer. Show all the work necessary to justify your answer or you will not receive full credit.
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Getting Help
Extra instruction is best obtained by appointment. Check my calendar (public via Google Apps for Government) or my office door to find when I am free. You are welcome to drop by unannounced, but I reserve
the right to be busy in that case. I expect you to have looked at the homework/quiz/exam and have some
specific questions. Calls up to about 2100 are fine.
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Conduct
• Act like what you will soon be, a junior officer in the United States Navy/Marine Corps.
• This is a hard class, and you will be required to work in order to pass. There is no excuse for
lack of effort.
• Do not sleep in this class. Stand in the back of the room, or you will be stood in the back of the room.
I have no problem making an example of sleepers.
• Do not use your phone or computer during this class unless authorized. If this is abused by Email,
Facebook, or any non-course related website the privilege will be revoked.
• For head calls, simply leave quietly without disturbing the class and return immediately. Only one
individual at a time during exams.
• Do not cheat. Ever. Evidence of cheating will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.
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Course Overview
This course will introduce nuclear weapons, their effects, and policy surrounding their use. The course begins
with a historical development of US nuclear weapons, including their only wartime use in Japan. The course
then gets quantitative with describing the physics of assembly, fission, and disassembly of a nuclear weapon.
The prompt effects of weapons in 5 burst locations are discussed, including x-rays, shock propagation, EMP,
and early radioactivity. Residual effects of nuclear weapons are then developed including fallout modeling,
structural damage, and fires. Biological effects are discussed with a focus on longer lived radio-isotopes. The
course is wrapped up with US and international policy regarding nuclear weapons.
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Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Calculate nuclear weapon yield using burst physics and given information such as height of burst, burn
up factor, type of material, and mass.
2. Describe the differences between high altitude, low altitude, surface contact, underwater, and underground burst effects.
3. Calculate radiation dose rates from a nuclear weapon given modeling software, and a scenario including
weather data and basic weapon parameters.
4. Explain the biological effects of radiation to human tissue, including the body areas most and least
vulnerable to nuclear radiation.
5. Explain US policy regarding nuclear weapons: Why do they exist? How are they used every day? How
do we prevent unwanted weapons in our country?
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