What happens if you shoot a nuclear warhead?

First off, as mentioned earlier, it’s very difficult to actually intercept an ICBM. Also, if an interceptor missile actually destroys a nuclear missile, it could lead to the plutonium or uranium core falling to the ground, which would consequently be a radiation hazard that could potentially endanger lives.

Do nukes explode before they hit the ground?

They detonate when they are scheduled to detonate. If you want an air burst the weapon can be set to detonate at the precise altitude. If you want a ground burst or a subterranean burst, the weapon can be set to detonate for either.

What happens if you explode a nuclear bomb in space?

If a nuclear weapon is exploded in a vacuum-i. e., in space-the complexion of weapon effects changes drastically: First, in the absence of an atmosphere, blast disappears completely. There is no longer any air for the blast wave to heat and much higher frequency radiation is emitted from the weapon itself.

Why do you suppose it is dangerous to look at the blast created by a nuclear weapon?

Those who look directly at the blast could experience eye damage ranging from temporary blindness to severe burns on the retina. Individuals near the blast site would be exposed to high levels of radiation and could develop symptoms of radiation sickness (called acute radiation syndrome, or ARS).

Can shooting a nuke set it off?

The explosives in a modern nuke are specifically designed to be extremely hard to detonate by accident. The so-called insensitive high explosives ( IHE ) would not go off if struck by a bullet. So at best your shot would scatter parts of the weapon around.

Do nukes leave craters?

Most damage comes from the explosive blast. When a nuclear weapon is detonated on or near Earth’s surface, the blast digs out a large crater. Some of the material that used in be in the crater is deposited on the rim of the crater; the rest is carried up into the air and returns to Earth as radioactive fallout.