Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site kitty.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!sunybcs!kitty!larry From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) Newsgroups: net.bizarre Subject: Re: Re: Re: plutonium Message-ID: <270@kitty.UUCP> Date: Wed, 7-Aug-85 21:35:58 EDT Article-I.D.: kitty.270 Posted: Wed Aug 7 21:35:58 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 9-Aug-85 04:26:42 EDT References: <541@bentley.UUCP> <499@mit-vax.UUCP> <217@kitty.UUCP> <544@mit-vax.UUCP> Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY Lines: 42 > >> Nothing, probably. Plutonium is VERY VERY VERY poisonous, but not > >> particularly explosive (the amount needed to make a bomb is not easily > >> transported). > > > >This is pure bull. > ... > >And to make a bomb all you need is a couple times critical mass. > > THIS is pure bull. If you have ONE times critical mass it will blow up, > you lunkhead! That's what critical mass MEANS! Bombs contain LESS than ... > > Fine, why don't I just fill your briefcase with plutonium and see how > long you can carry it around before you drop dead. 8 grams of plutonium > will boil a liter of water in about a minute. I don't think you want to > carry around a breifcaseful. Why don't *both* of you turkeys get your physics straight before opening your mouths? There are several isotopes of plutonium, ALL of which are alpha emitters. Do you know what an alpha particle is? You can safely shield the radiation from plutonium with aluminum foil! It is indeed true that plutonium is one of the most toxic materials known to man, but it has to get *inside* the human body for it to be toxic. Plutonium-239 is the weapons-grade isotope, and is not the form of plutonium known for maximum heat emission based upon spontaneous decay. Plutonium enriched 80% in Plutonium-238 is the isotope used for heat generation in thermoelectric power generators, and its thermal specific power is 0.56 watts/gram. 8 grams is 4.48 watts. Do you have any idea how long 4.48 watts will take to raise the temperature of water from 20 to 100 deg C and boil it? Try around 1 *week* (assuming you had no external heat loss)! Larry Lippman Recognition Research Corp. Clarence, New York UUCP {decvax,dual,rocksanne,rocksvax,watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry {rice,shell}!baylor!/ syr!buf!/ VOICE 716/741-9185 TELEX {via WUI} 69-71461 answerback: ELGECOMCLR "Have you hugged your cat today?"