l has on flora and fauna. In the end, if it's a missile, we fir

e it, record its performa
nce and bring b
ack the pieces fo
r postmortem examination. A
ll test data i
s reduced and the   
customer receives

a full report. For more

• information on White Sands Missile Rang
• e or Trinity Site contact: Public Affairs Office (WS-PA) White Sands Missile Range, N.M. 88002-5047 Phone# is (575) 678-1134 Visit the Public Affairs web pages for the mos
• t up-to-date official information about Trinity Site or the missile range at:
• www.wsmr.army.mil Use the links t
  • o get to the Public Affairs homep
  • age where you will find a table of
  • contents. This is a drawing of the patch which was issued to military p
• ersonnel who participated in the Manhattan Project. The background of the patch is blue to re

Scope of Course

• present the universe. A white cloud and a lightning bolt form a question mark which symbolizes the unknown results and the secrecy surrounding the project. The lightn
• ing bolt extends down to split a yellow atom, which represents atomic fission and the expected success of the test. A red and blue star in the center of the question mark is the insignia fo
• r the Army Service Forces to which soldiers working on the Manhattan Project were assigned. Trinity Site July 16, 1945
• "The effects could well be called unprecedented, magnificent, beautiful, stupendous, and terrifying. No man-made phenomenon of such tremen
• dous power had ever occurred before. The lighting effects beggared description. The whole country was lighted by a searing light with the intensity ma
• ny times that of the midday sun." Brig. Gen. Thomas Farrell A national historic landmark on White Sands Missile Range--www.wsmr.army.rnil Radiation B
• asics Radiation comes from the nucleus of individual atoms. Simple atoms like oxygen are very stable. Its nucleus has eight protons and eight neutrons and holds together well.
• The nucleus of a complex atom like uranium is not as stable. Uranium has 92 protons and 146 neutrons in its core. T
• hese unstable atoms tend to break down into more stable, simpler forms. When this happens the atom emits subatomic par
• ticles and gamma rays. This is where the word "radiation" comes from--the atom radiates particles and

rays. Hea

lth physicists are

concerned with four emissions from the nucleus of these atoms. One of these radiations is the alpha particle which is relatively large and t

• ravels fairly slowly
• compared to other atom
• ic particles. Alpha part
• icles are composed of two protons
• and two neutrons. They

travel about one to three inches in the air and are easily stopped by a sheet of paper. Another radiation is the beta particle, basically a very light electron that moves at less than the speed of light. These particles are more energetic than alpha particles, but can be stopped by a thin sheet of metal or heavy clothing. The third form of nuclear radiation is the gamma ray. This is a type of electromagnetic rad

iation like

visible light, ra   

dio waves and

X-rays. They travel at the spe

ed of light. It takes at least an inch of lead or eight inches of concrete to stop them. Finally, neutrons are also emitted by some radioactive substances. Neutrons are

• very penetrating but are not as c
• ommon in nature. Neutrons have the
• capability o
• f striking the nucleus of another atom and changing a stable atom into an

unstable, and therefore, radioactive one. Neutrons emitted in nuclear r