Mark 84
USA · 1956 · 0.9 tons TNT · conventional high-explosive
Overview
Standard 2000 lb general purpose bomb.
With a yield of 0.9 tons TNT, the Mark 84 is 16667× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb. It is a conventional high-explosive weapon that releases its energy through chemical reactions, not nuclear processes.
Mark 84 Blast Effects
The table below shows the calculated radius of each effect zone for an air burst (optimal altitude, maximum blast spread) and a surface burst (ground level, with massive radioactive fallout). Formulas are scaling laws from The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (Glasstone & Dolan, 1977).
| Effect zone | Air burst | Surface burst |
|---|---|---|
| Fireball radius | 0.01 km | 0.01 km |
| Severe blast (20 PSI) | 0.05 km | 0.03 km |
| Moderate blast (5 PSI) | 0.10 km | 0.06 km |
| Light blast (1 PSI) | 0.29 km | 0.16 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 0.04 km | 0.02 km |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 0.07 km | 0.04 km |
| Lethal fallout zone | minimal | ~0.7 km |
All values are 1-D ground-distance estimates from the detonation point. Real-world effects depend on terrain, weather, and building construction.
Run the Mark 84 on a City
Use the interactive simulator to detonate the Mark 84 on any city worldwide. Click any location on the map to see the fireball, blast, and thermal radii overlaid on real geography with population-density-based casualty estimates.
🎯 Simulate Mark 84Related Weapons
FAQ
How big is the Mark 84 blast radius?
In an air burst, the Mark 84 produces a fireball roughly 0.01 km in radius and a 5 PSI moderate-blast zone of about 0.10 km — the area in which most residential buildings would collapse. The 1 PSI light-damage radius extends to roughly 0.29 km, where windows shatter.
What is the yield of the Mark 84?
The Mark 84 has a yield of 0.9 tons TNT of TNT equivalent. That is 16667× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb.
Is the Mark 84 bigger than the Hiroshima bomb?
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) had a yield of approximately 15 kilotons. The Mark 84 at 0.9 tons TNT is 16667× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb.