The Manhattan Project was a U.S. government research project(1942-1946) that led to the production of atomic bombs in World War II.It was led by the United States with the support of the United Kingdom and Canada. From 1942 until 1946, this project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Army component of the project was designated the Manhattan District; "Manhattan" gradually superseded the official code name, Development of Substitute Materials, for the entire project. The Manhattan Project began modestly in 1939, but grew to employ more than 130,000 people and cost nearly US$2 billion (about $26 billion in 2014 dollars). Two types of atomic bomb were developed during the war. The gun-type fission weapon was made using Uranium-235, an isotope that makes up only 0.7 percent of natural uranium.
The first nuclear weapon ever launched was an implosion-type bomb at the Trinity test conducted at New Mexico's Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range on 16 July 1945. The weapons used in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are Little Boy a gun-type weapon and the implosion-type, Fat Man.
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- Should physics teaching include military applications? -I think physics teaching should include other military applications because other aspects in military like the use of bombs, how bombs are created, what is the significance of cannons or guns, explains more about physics. There are also some trends that include historical aspects which can help find an opportunity to improve or develop new ideas in physics. Some textbooks explains the bomb very briefly that it can help people to know more ideas about it's relation to physics.
- How could a discussion of the Manhattan project contribute to the image of physics and physicists? -Like I said on the previous question, it explains more and brief about physics. As we all know, Manhattan Project is a U.S. government project whereas atomic bombs were created on the midst of World War II. Atomic bombs, on the other hand, is related in physics which made it understandable to people on what physics is. The Manhattan project contributed to the image of physicist by the use of information and brief explanation on how atomic bomb is created or how does it help contribute to physics.
- Could scientists be held responsible for the way results are used? -I think they do because they are the one responsible for the production and discovery of atomic bombs and other weapons. After all, the real responsibility of scientists, are the integrity and vigor of his science. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists continues to educate citizens about global security issues, especially the continuing dangers caused by weapons that may result mass destruction, and the appropriate use of nuclear technology.
- Should certain areas of science be avoided because of possible destructive use? -Certain areas of science should be avoided because of public destructive use like things that may lead to the destruction of our planet or things that may contribute to the harm of citizens and our surroundings. Science should be used to help people to grow or excel more and for living things and our planet to benefit on it not the reason for our destruction.
- What is the role of physics in our society? -The role of physics in the society is to help us to our everyday living. Physics contributes a lot to make our lives easier and more productive and helps us to be comfortable in living.
- How does society shaped the development of Physics as a science and how did Physics shaped the human civilization? -Society helps shape the development of Physics as a science by the newly discovered technologies and by the contribution of other people especially scientists or physicists to know more about physics and to make it beneficial to us. Physics shape the human civilization by making it a new generation. A generation that physics is highly needed and making physics a part of our everyday lives.
- What are the points of impact between physics and society? -Physics had a huge impact to our society and society, on the other hand, made a huge impact to physics. Physics made our society much better and made our lives easier that the others before who had a small idea on what physics is and how will it contribute to us and to our society. Society in return contributed a lot in physics by the people who made it possible for physics to be a part of our everyday life and for the things that made a larger description and explanation on what is physics.
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The Manhattan project: global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/362098/Manhattan-Project
Challenging questions raised in the Manhattan Project excerpt(Question 1-5) and Essential questions(Questions 1 & 2):
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