The Manhattan Project
What was the Manhattan Project’s main goal?
Develop the atomic bomb
What phrase does Oppenheimer say after witnessing the Trinity test?
“Now I am become Death...”
What process powers atomic bombs?
Nuclear fission
What year did Oppenheimer’s security hearing take place?
1954
What ethical concern did Oppenheimer raise after WWII?
The moral consequences of using the bomb
What U.S. state was the Los Alamos lab located in?
New Mexico
What does Oppenheimer confess to President Truman after the bomb is dropped?
That he feels he has blood on his hands
What two elements were used in WWII bombs?
Uranium and plutonium
Who testified against Oppenheimer at the hearing?
Edward Teller
What global organization was formed after WWII to prevent war?
The United Nations
Who was chosen to lead the scientific direction of the project?
J. Robert Oppenheimer
Who does Oppenheimer argue with about building the H-bomb?
Edward Teller
What does “critical mass” mean?
The minimum amount of fissile material needed for a chain reaction
What was Oppenheimer accused of?
Being a security risk due to past Communist associations and opposing the H-bomb
What modern technology raises similar ethical issues as the atomic bomb?
Artificial Intelligence or nuclear tech—accept both
What year did the Trinity test occur?
1945
What scene symbolizes Oppenheimer’s loss of public favor?
His security hearing / public humiliation
What’s the difference between atomic and hydrogen bombs?
H-bombs use fusion and are far more powerful
What did Commissioner Ward Evans argue?
That the hearing was unjust and politically motivated
What is a civic responsibility scientists have today?
To speak out about the ethical use of their work
What government agency oversaw the Manhattan Project?
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
What musical cue is used during intense moral conflict scenes in the film?
Rising distortion/screeching tones
What is a chain reaction in nuclear physics?
A reaction where released neutrons cause more reactions
What agency stripped Oppenheimer’s security clearance?
The Atomic Energy Commission (The AEC)
What phrase describes the idea that scientists must consider the impact of their discoveries?
Scientific responsibility or scientific ethics