GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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adiabatic cooling

Tne process by which the temperatureof

an ascending body of air is changed by

expansion, being about 1.6 degrees

Fahrenheit for each 300 feet of change of

height.
airburst

Strictly defined, the explosion of an atomic
weapon in the air, above land or water, at
a height greater than the maximum radius

of the fireball,

alpha particle

Essentially the nucleus of the helium atom
and consisting of two protons and two

neutrons, Alpha emitting dusts, as
associated with muclear detonations, constitute
a potential health hazard if inhaled or
ingested,

ancillary equipment

That equipment designated for special

operational or functional support of any part
of a weapon,

arming system

That portion of a weapon which originates

the signals required to arm, safe, or resafe

the firing system and the fuzing system, and
to actuate the nuclear safing system,
ballistic shape

1.

An inert dummy weapon having the same

external configuration and identical

ballistic characteristics as the weapon with
which it is associated,
2.
The aerodynamic contour of a weapon,
baro

A pressure sensitive device used in some
atomic bombs to actuate circuits, The tern
is a contraction of "barometric switch,"
sometimes referred to as “baro switch."

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