Test No. 6
China · 1967 · 3.3 megatons · thermonuclear (hydrogen bomb)
Overview
First Chinese H-bomb test.
With a yield of 3.3 megatons, the Test No. 6 is 220× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. As a thermonuclear (hydrogen bomb) weapon, it derives its energy from a fission primary that ignites a much larger fusion secondary stage.
Test No. 6 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 | 3.70 km | 2.96 km |
| Severe blast (20 PSI) | 6.98 km | 3.84 km |
| Moderate blast (5 PSI) | 14.93 km | 8.21 km |
| Light blast (1 PSI) | 42.46 km | 23.35 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 18.56 km | 11.14 km |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 33.25 km | 19.95 km |
| Lethal fallout zone | minimal | ~306.6 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 Test No. 6 on a City
Use the interactive simulator to detonate the Test No. 6 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.
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FAQ
How big is the Test No. 6 blast radius?
In an air burst, the Test No. 6 produces a fireball roughly 3.70 km in radius and a 5 PSI moderate-blast zone of about 14.93 km — the area in which most residential buildings would collapse. The 1 PSI light-damage radius extends to roughly 42.46 km, where windows shatter.
What is the yield of the Test No. 6?
The Test No. 6 has a yield of 3.3 megatons of TNT equivalent. That is 220× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
Is the Test No. 6 bigger than the Hiroshima bomb?
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) had a yield of approximately 15 kilotons. The Test No. 6 at 3.3 megatons is 220× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
What thermal burn radius does the Test No. 6 produce?
Thermal radiation from the Test No. 6 can cause 3rd-degree burns out to roughly 18.56 km and 2nd-degree burns out to 33.25 km in an air burst. Surface bursts reduce these radii by approximately 40 percent due to ground absorption.