The Manhattan Project
What was the codename of the first successful bomb test?
Trinity
What famous phrase does Oppenheimer quote after the Trinity test?
“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”
What process powers atomic bombs?
Nuclear fission
In what year did the security hearing take place?
1954
What honor was awarded to Oppenheimer posthumously by President Johnson?
The Enrico Fermi Award
Who oversaw military operations for the Manhattan Project?
General Leslie Groves
Why are some scenes shown in black and white?
To reflect Lewis Strauss’s perspective and the hearing's "official" view
How is a hydrogen bomb different from an atomic bomb?
It uses nuclear fusion and yields far more energy
Which agency revoked Oppenheimer’s security clearance?
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
Which doctrine shaped U.S. nuclear strategy in the Cold War?
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)
Why was secrecy critical for the Manhattan Project?
To prevent enemy detection and secure technological advantage
What does Oppenheimer imagine in the crowd after the bombing?
Burned, melting faces—his guilt personified
What is a "chain reaction"?
When neutrons from one fission event trigger more events
What fear fueled the targeting of scientists like Oppenheimer?
Communist influence and espionage
What modern issue reflects similar ethical concerns to the atomic bomb?
AI, biotechnology, or climate engineering
What other major site — besides Los Alamos — played a key role in uranium work?
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
What does silence during the Trinity test sequence represent?
Emotional weight and internal tension
Define “critical mass” in nuclear physics.
The smallest mass of fissile material needed to sustain a chain reaction
Who testified against Oppenheimer, questioning his judgment?
Edward Teller
What international group was founded to prevent future wars?
The United Nations
What nickname was given to the plutonium bomb dropped on Nagasaki?
Fat Man
What overarching theme is symbolized by overlapping timelines in the film?
The complexity of truth and memory
Why did scientists regret the creation of the bomb?
They feared the moral implications and destructive power they unleashed
What did Commissioner Ward Evans argue in his dissent?
That the hearing was politically motivated and unjust
What lesson does the film emphasize about power and science?
That scientific advancement without ethical guidance can be dangerous