Weapon of mass destruction facts for kids
Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) are special kinds of weapons that can cause a lot of damage. They can harm many people, buildings, and the environment all at once. Unlike regular weapons, WMDs can affect a very large area and cause widespread problems.
There are three main types of weapons that are usually called WMDs:
Contents
What Are Chemical Weapons?
Chemical weapons use harmful chemicals to hurt or kill people. These chemicals can be gases, liquids, or solids. When released, they can spread through the air and affect anyone who breathes them in or touches them.
How Chemical Weapons Work
Chemical weapons often target the nervous system, skin, or lungs. For example, nerve gases attack the body's nervous system, making it hard to breathe or move. Other chemicals can burn the skin or damage the lungs, making it impossible to breathe. These weapons are very dangerous because they can be invisible and spread quickly.
History of Chemical Weapons
Chemical weapons were first used on a large scale during World War I. Countries used gases like chlorine and mustard gas in the trenches. After seeing the terrible effects, many countries agreed to ban these weapons. Today, using chemical weapons is against international law.
What Are Biological Weapons?
Biological weapons use tiny living things, like germs (bacteria, viruses, or fungi), to cause diseases. These germs can make many people sick at the same time. The goal is to spread illness and cause panic.
How Biological Weapons Work
Biological weapons might spread through the air, water, or food. For example, a germ like Anthrax can cause severe illness if inhaled. Diseases like Smallpox could also be used, though smallpox has been mostly wiped out naturally. Because germs are invisible, it can be hard to know if a biological attack is happening until people start getting sick.
Dangers of Biological Weapons
One big danger of biological weapons is that diseases can spread very quickly from person to person. This could lead to a pandemic, where a disease spreads across many countries. Because of this risk, making or using biological weapons is also against international agreements.
What Are Nuclear Weapons?
Nuclear weapons are the most powerful type of WMD. They get their energy from changes inside the center (nucleus) of atoms. When a nuclear weapon explodes, it creates a massive blast, intense heat, and dangerous radiation.
How Nuclear Weapons Work
Nuclear weapons work by splitting atoms (fission) or joining them together (fusion).
- Fission weapons (like the atomic bombs used in World War II) split heavy atoms, releasing a huge amount of energy.
- Fusion weapons (like hydrogen bombs) combine light atoms, creating an even more powerful explosion.
Effects of a Nuclear Explosion
A nuclear explosion has several devastating effects:
- Blast Wave: A powerful shockwave that can destroy buildings for miles around.
- Heat: Extreme heat that can cause severe burns and start huge fires.
- Radiation: Invisible, harmful energy that can cause sickness, cancer, and death, even long after the explosion. This radiation can also make areas unsafe for a very long time.
- Nuclear Fallout: Radioactive dust and debris that falls back to Earth after the explosion, spreading radiation over a wide area.
History of Nuclear Weapons
The first nuclear weapons were developed during World War II. The United States used two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945, ending the war. Since then, several other countries have developed nuclear weapons. Efforts are ongoing to reduce the number of these weapons and prevent their use.
Related pages
Images for kids
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In early 2019, more than 90% of the world's 13,865 nuclear weapons were owned by Russia and the United States.
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U.S. nuclear warheads, 1945–2002
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An atomic-bomb blueprint
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Anti-nuclear weapons protest march in Oxford, 1980
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Biohazard symbol, used to warn about biological dangers.
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See also
In Spanish: Armas de destrucción masiva para niños
