Final answer:
The two types of detonating systems are fission bombs, which split atomic nuclei to release energy, and thermonuclear bombs, which use fission to ignite a secondary fusion reaction. Fission bombs use materials like uranium-235, while thermonuclear bombs use hydrogen isotopes, offering a much wider range of energy yields and more thermal output and radiation than conventional explosives.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are two types of detonating systems for nuclear weapons: fission bombs and thermonuclear bombs. Fission bombs, also known as atomic bombs, use nuclear fission alone to release energy. In this process, the nucleus of an atom, typically uranium or plutonium, is split into smaller parts, releasing a vast amount of energy. The gun-type fission bomb is an example, which uses two subcritical masses of uranium-235 forced together to achieve a supercritical mass and initiate an explosive chain reaction.
On the other hand, thermonuclear bombs, also called hydrogen bombs or H-bombs, use fission to ignite a secondary fusion reaction. This involves fusing light atomic nuclei such as hydrogen isotopes under extreme temperature and pressure conditions, which are initially provided by a fission explosion.
The energy yields for these nuclear weapons can vary significantly, from about 0.1 kilotons (kT) to more than 20 megatons (MT) of TNT equivalent. Nuclear bombs also differ from conventional explosives in that they produce a larger fraction of their output as thermal energy and nuclear radiation. Moreover, nuclear explosions have dire consequences, including massive destruction, immediate and residual radiation that poses significant health impacts, and long-term environmental damage.