Energy Field

The total energy released in nuclear explosion is called the weapon's energy yield.

The energy yield of a nuclear explosion takes three forms:

  • Thermal radiation (light and heat)
  • Blast or shock effect (air blast)
  • Nuclear radiation

Each of these will be discussed in more depth in the following screens.

Mushroom cloud emitting heat (represented by red arrows), radiation (represented by purple arrows like in Unit 1), and an air blast, represented by concentric circles