Little Boy

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/little-boy

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the weapon design?Gun-type fission atomic bomb
2. What is the primary fissile material?Uranium-235 (highly enriched)
3. How did Little Boy explode over Hiroshima?It fired a uranium bullet into a target, creating a supercritical mass that split atoms and released a blast about 15 kilotons, destroying most of the city.
4. Why was the gun‑type design chosen for Little Boy?The gun‑type design was simpler and seemed reliable, so it could be built quickly during the war.

Supercritical Mass: The minimum amount of fissile material needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction.
Isotope: Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.
Nuclear Deterrence: A military strategy where the threat of using nuclear weapons prevents an enemy from attacking.
Hibakusha: Japanese term for survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.