By Michael Turner, Brandon Holmes, Jon Ray, Melanie

Lisinicchia

What are EMP's?

EMP stands for electromagnetic pulse

It was discovered in the 1940's as a byproduct of a

nuclear explosion, but is now used as a weapon by itself.

The EMP is the electrical current after a blast that

produces gamma rays. The current fries electronics
within a certain radius making them unusable

EMP History

In August 1859, the first recorded damage from an

electromagnetic pulse came from a solar storm. It
was called the Carrington Event. In history, its the
biggest solar storm recorded to this date

In July 1962, a 1.44 megaton US nuclear test in

space occurred 250 miles above the middle of the
Pacific Ocean. It was called the Starfish Prime test.
It showed nuclear scientists that the magnitude and
effects of a high altitude nuclear explosion were a
lot bigger than they had calculated before.

EMP's as a weapon

E-bombs and nuclear bombs are the

main ways to create EMPs at a large
scale. The size of the EMP ranges
depending on the height above the
earth.

If a EMP went off in a city it wouldn't

just destroy phones it would destroy
anything that even has a electrical
current going through it such as
computers, air support, air defense,
sub-stations and even cars.

How EMP's work

When a nuclear bomb or Ebomb explodes, it produces

a short, intense burst of
gamma rays, which interact
with particles in the
atmosphere to ionize them.
This results in a short and
intense electromagnetic field.

How EMPs work (cont.)

When an electromagnetic
field is created it unleashes
a kilovoltage (kV) shock
wave either through air or
through conductive
pathways such as exposed
electrical conductors.

Sources
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2015.
"Electromagnetic field." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and
Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 5th ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2014. Science In Context.
Web. 9 Nov. 2015.
Wilson, Clay. "E-Bomb." Terrorism: Essential Primary Sources. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and
Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 413-416. Opposing Viewpoints In Context.
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