Re: [Way off topic] depleted uranium
On Wed, Dec 29, 2004 at 09:48:56AM -0800, bandito wrote:
> i think they'd be used more as an environmental contaminant than
> something intended to actually cause death... setting off a big one in a
> city wouldnt kill THAT many people, but it'd keep them out of the
> contaminated area until the radioactive material was cleaned up (or a
> few millions years passes, whichever comes first).
> in that respect, i think the result is a bit similar
>
DU as a contaminant isn't really much more or less problematic than
say lead or mercury. Well, in some respects it's easier to clean up
because it's very easy to separate from the environment because of
it's radically heavier weight.
DU's unique property that gets it used in so many weapons systems
is its rather amazing density, pretty much the best transmitter of
energy in the kinetic form that there ever was. Not saying that
justifies it's use, just that it explains it...
-Dorn
Reply to: