The pressures at the center of a nuke are greater than in the earth's core?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Researcher X
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Center Core Nuke
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The pressure at the center of a nuclear explosion, exemplified by the Ivy Mike test at 530 TPa, vastly exceeds the Earth's core pressure of 380 GPa, by over 1000 times. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes exhibit a tensile strength of 63 GPa, with a theoretical upper limit of 300 GPa, indicating they cannot withstand the extreme conditions found at the Earth's core. The discussion highlights the transient nature of pressures in nuclear explosions compared to the constant pressure at the core. Additionally, the feasibility of creating materials or vehicles capable of surviving such extreme environments remains questionable.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of pressure measurements in gigapascals (GPa) and terapascal (TPa).
  • Knowledge of material science, specifically regarding tensile strength and atomic bonding.
  • Familiarity with nuclear physics, particularly the mechanics of nuclear explosions.
  • Basic concepts of inertial confinement fusion and its pressure capabilities.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties and applications of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in extreme environments.
  • Explore the mechanics of inertial confinement fusion and its implications for material science.
  • Investigate advanced materials capable of withstanding extreme pressures and temperatures.
  • Study the differences between theoretical and practical material strengths in engineering applications.
USEFUL FOR

Material scientists, nuclear physicists, engineers involved in high-pressure applications, and anyone interested in the limits of material strength under extreme conditions.

Researcher X
Messages
91
Reaction score
0
Wikipedia has an Ivy Mike level nuke at 530 TPa, and the core pressure is at 380 GPa. That's a factor of over 1000 times. I'm wondering whether these are exactly comparable, since the pressure at the core is constant, whereas in a nuke, it's relatively brief.

A multi walled carbon nanotube was tested with a tensile strength of 63 Gigapascals. Apparently, they have a theoretical upper limit of 300 GPa, so that's a bit short of surviving at the core. Is that a theoretical upper limit on strength full stop or just nanotubes? Then, there's the temperature which is similar to the surface of the sun at the core as well.

Is there any hope of making a vehicle which could survive down there? I take it no material can survive within ten feet of a nuclear explosion though.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Researcher X said:
Wikipedia has an Ivy Mike level nuke at 530 TPa, and the core pressure is at 380 GPa. That's a factor of over 1000 times. I'm wondering whether these are exactly comparable, since the pressure at the core is constant, whereas in a nuke, it's relatively brief.
You can get even higher pressures with Inertial Contained Fusion - but not for very long!

A multi walled carbon nanotube was tested with a tensile strength of 63 Gigapascals. Apparently, they have a theoretical upper limit of 300 GPa
There is a lot of difference between the theoretical strength of a material based purely on atomic bonds and the real strenght of an object with cracks, joints etc.
You can grow single crystals of metals that are many times stronger than a metal bar - but they aren't much practical use.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
11K