Test Your Nuclear IQ
If you’re not a science buff, the term “nuclear” probably stands out because you’ll have heard about nuclear weapons in the news, or you’ll have heard about it on a television show. How much do you really know about it, however? Test your Nuclear IQ in this quiz and find out!
- 1.
Which countries currently have nuclear weapons?
- A.
United States, Russia, Libya, France, China, Pakistan, Israel, Iran, North Korea
- B.
United States, Germany, France, Russia, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan
- C.
United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, France, China, Brazil
- D.
United States, China, United Kingdom, France, Russia, India, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea
- E.
United States, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, China
Correct Answer
D. United States, China, United Kingdom, France, Russia, India, Pakistan, Israel, North KoreaExplanation
The correct answer includes countries that currently possess nuclear weapons. These countries are the United States, China, United Kingdom, France, Russia, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea.Rate this question:
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- 2.
What is the blast yield of the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima?1
- A.
15 kilotons of TNT
- B.
50 kilotons of TNT
- C.
180 kilotons of TNT
- D.
370 kilotons of TNT
- E.
1 megaton of TNT
Correct Answer
A. 15 kilotons of TNTExplanation
1. Los Alamos report: John Malik, “The Yields of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Nuclear Explosions,” 1985Rate this question:
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- 3.
What is the blast yield of a warhead on the LGM-30 Minuteman, the current land-based ICBM used by the United States? 2
- A.
340 kilotons of TNT
- B.
250 kilotons of TNT
- C.
130 kilotons of TNT
- D.
65 kilotons of TNT
- E.
20 kilotons of TNT
Correct Answer
A. 340 kilotons of TNTExplanation
2. "Complete List of All U.S. Nuclear Weapons," globalsecurity.org, accessed: [http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/nuke-list.htm]Rate this question:
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- 4.
Which of the following has more nuclear weapons? 3
- A.
India
- B.
Pakistan
- C.
A Russian ICBM
- D.
A US nuclear submarine
- E.
Iran
Correct Answer
D. A US nuclear submarineExplanation
3. An Ohio-class submarine holds 24 MIRVed Trident missiles, each holding several warheads. Federation of American Scientists—“SSBN-726 Ohio-Class FBM Submarines” accessed: [http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/uswpns/navy/submarines/ssbn726_ohio.html]Rate this question:
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- 5.
According to a study cited by Nuclear Darkness & Global Climate Change, how many Hiroshima-sized bombs does it take to induce “catastrophic climate change”? 4
- A.
100
- B.
1,000
- C.
5,000
- D.
10,000
- E.
20,000
Correct Answer
A. 100Explanation
4. “Nuclear Weapons & Global Climate Change: The Deadly Consequences of Nuclear War,” accessed: [http://www.nucleardarkness.org/nuclear/faq/]Rate this question:
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- 6.
How many nuclear weapons are in the 4 most nuclear US states, New Mexico, Georgia, Washington, and Nevada respectively? 5
- A.
2450, 2000, 1685, and 1350
- B.
680, 545, 385, and 320
- C.
350, 220, 175, and 110
- D.
130, 74, 48, and 25
- E.
25, 18, 14, and 9
Correct Answer
A. 2450, 2000, 1685, and 1350Explanation
5. The Brookings Institution—“50 Facts About U.S. Nuclear Weapons,” accessed: [http://www.brookings.edu/projects/archive/nucweapons/50.aspx]Rate this question:
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- 7.
After the US and Russia, the third largest nuclear power possesses around 300 nuclear weapons. How large is the complete United States nuclear inventory? 6
- A.
13,600
- B.
9,400
- C.
2,500
- D.
330
- E.
70
Correct Answer
B. 9,400Explanation
The correct answer is 9,400. This means that the complete United States nuclear inventory is estimated to be 9,400 nuclear weapons.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Which of the following is larger:7
- A.
Total land area of the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and New Jersey
- B.
Total fallout area of a 1 megaton hydrogen bomb
- C.
The Netherlands
- D.
Total land area of the largest National Park in the Lower 48 states (Death Valley National Park in CA)
- E.
Total known land area occupied by U.S. nuclear weapons bases and facilities
Correct Answer
E. Total known land area occupied by U.S. nuclear weapons bases and facilitiesExplanation
7. Nuclear information from The Brookings Institution—“50 Facts About U.S. Nuclear Weapons,” accessed: [http://www.brookings.edu/projects/archive/nucweapons/50.aspx], National Park information found at the National Park Service Website [http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/quickfacts.htm]Rate this question:
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- 9.
How much time does the President of the United States have to decide whether to launch nuclear missiles if warning systems detect a possible attack?
- A.
Around 15 minutes
- B.
Half an hour
- C.
A few hours
Correct Answer
A. Around 15 minutesExplanation
The President of the United States has around 15 minutes to decide whether to launch nuclear missiles if warning systems detect a possible attack. This limited time frame is due to the urgency and time-sensitive nature of a potential nuclear attack. In such a scenario, quick decision-making is crucial to ensure the safety and security of the nation.Rate this question:
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- 10.
What are the ways nuclear weapons could be delivered to their target?
- A.
Intercontinental, Medium-, and Short-Range Ballistic Missiles, and Submarine-launched missiles
- B.
Air-dropped bombs
- C.
Artillery
- D.
A and b only
- E.
All of the above
Correct Answer
E. All of the aboveExplanation
The correct answer is "all of the above". Nuclear weapons can be delivered to their target through various means, including intercontinental, medium-, and short-range ballistic missiles, submarine-launched missiles, air-dropped bombs, and artillery. This means that nuclear weapons can be transported and deployed through a combination of missile systems, aircraft, and ground-based artillery, providing multiple options for delivering them to their intended targets.Rate this question:
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- 11.
How much highly enriched uranium does it take to assemble a primitive nuclear weapon? 8
- A.
45 tons
- B.
20 tons
- C.
1 ton
- D.
500 kilograms
- E.
64 kilograms
Correct Answer
E. 64 kilogramsExplanation
8. “HEU as weapons material – a technical background,” briefing prepared by the Nuclear Threat Initiative, accessed: [www.nti.org/e_research/official_docs/norway/HEU_as_Weapons_Material.pdf]Rate this question:
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- 12.
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty:
- A.
Recognizes only five nuclear weapons states
- B.
Forbids non-nuclear weapons states from acquiring nuclear technology
- C.
Allows for peaceful civilian uses of nuclear energy
- D.
Calls for conventional (non-nuclear) military disarmament
- E.
All of the above
Correct Answer
E. All of the aboveExplanation
9. “THE TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS” (original text) accessed: [http://www.un.org/events/npt2005/npttreaty.html]Rate this question:
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- 13.
All but the following countries are members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty:10
- A.
Pakistan, India, Israel, North Korea
- B.
North Korea, Iran, Pakistan
- C.
United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, France
- D.
United States, Pakistan, India
- E.
Israel, North Korea, Egypt
Correct Answer
A. Pakistan, India, Israel, North KoreaExplanation
10. Federation of American Scientists—“Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [NPT]” accessed: [http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/npt/]Rate this question:
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- 14.
The United States has seriously considered using nuclear weapons:11
- A.
Against North Vietnam during the Vietnam war and recently against Iran
- B.
Against North Korea and Chinese troops during the Korean War
- C.
Against China in 1958 during peacetime
- D.
Against Iraq during the Gulf War
- E.
All of the above
Correct Answer
E. All of the aboveExplanation
11. William Burr and Jeffrey Kimball, Ed., "Nixon White House Considered Nuclear Options Against North Vietnam, Declassified Documents Reveal," from National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 195, accessed [http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB195/index.htm]. The other answers are derived from “U.S. nuclear threats: Then and now,” Prepared by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, September/October 2006Rate this question:
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- 15.
What is the annual cost of nuclear weapons for the United States (2008)?12
- A.
$52.4 billion
- B.
$34.2 billion
- C.
$17 billion
- D.
$300.8 million
- E.
$126.9 million
Correct Answer
A. $52.4 billionExplanation
12. Stephen I. Schwartz and Deepti Choubey, Nuclear Security Spending: Assessing Costs, Examining Priorities (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2008), 6Rate this question:
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- 16.
Most historians agree that the following was the most significant factor in Japan’s decision to surrender during World War II:13
- A.
The destruction of Japan’s merchant marine
- B.
The dropping of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- C.
The firebombing of Japanese cities
- D.
Entry of the Soviet Union into the war
- E.
The US invasion in preparation
Correct Answer
D. Entry of the Soviet Union into the warExplanation
13. Gar Alperovitz, “Historians Reassess: Did We Need To Drop The Bomb?” Hiroshima’s Shadow (Connecticut: Pamphleteer’s Press, 1998), 8Rate this question:
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- 17.
"Saving American lives" is the most common justification for using the atomic bombs at the end of World War II. In US military documents, the maximum American casualty estimate for an invasion of Japan was:14
- A.
46,000
- B.
220,000
- C.
500,000
- D.
1.7 million
- E.
2 million
Correct Answer
A. 46,000Explanation
14. Gar Alperovitz, “Historians Reassess: Did We Need To Drop The Bomb?” Hiroshima’s Shadow (Connecticut: Pamphleteer’s Press, 1998), 12Rate this question:
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- 18.
How many people died as a result of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?15
- A.
Around 2400
- B.
Around 20,000
- C.
Around 80,000
- D.
Around 200,000
- E.
Around 1 million
Correct Answer
D. Around 200,000Explanation
15. Estimates range from 150,000 to 246,000. Radiation Effects Research Foundation—“FAQ.” Accessed: [http://www.rerf.or.jp/general/qa_e/qa1.html]Rate this question:
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- 19.
How many US nuclear weapons were lost in accidents and never recovered?16
- A.
16
- B.
11
- C.
8
- D.
5
- E.
3
Correct Answer
B. 11Explanation
16. The Brookings Institution—“50 Facts About U.S. Nuclear Weapons,” accessed: [http://www.brookings.edu/projects/archive/nucweapons/50.aspx]Rate this question:
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- 20.
How many times did United States receive false alarms of impending nuclear attack?17
- A.
None
- B.
1
- C.
4
- D.
6
- E.
9
Correct Answer
C. 4Explanation
The date and location of the incidents are: October, 5, 1960, Thule; October 25, 1962, Volk Field Base; June 3 and 6, 1980, NORAD; January 10, 1984, Warren AFB. Jaya Tiwari and Cleve J. Gray, "US Nuclear Weapons Accidents," Center For Defense Information website, accessed: [http://www.cdi.org/Issues/NukeAccidents/Accidents.htm]Rate this question:
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Current Version
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Jan 12, 2010Quiz Created by
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