History of the Manhattan Project

The Manhattan Project was a U.S. research initiative that led to the creation of the first atomic bomb. Initiated in 1939 with minimal funding, it expanded under the leadership of Leslie Groves, establishing key research sites across the U.S. The first successful test occurred in New Mexico in 1945, leading to the bomb's use in Japan. The project, initially costing $6,000, ultimately cost $2 billion and resulted in significant loss of life.

Who was the U.S. President when scientists first approached the government about researching fission for military use?

• Harry S. Truman

• Herbert Hoover

• Franklin D. Roosevelt

• Dwight D. Eisenhower

What was the initial amount allocated by President Roosevelt for the fission study?

• Six thousand dollars

• One million dollars

• Two billion dollars

• Fifty thousand dollars

Who was appointed as the leader of the Manhattan Project?

• Leslie Groves

• Enrico Fermi

• Robert Oppenheimer

• Leo Szilard

In which state was the first nuclear reactor built?

• Illinois

• California

• New York

• New Mexico

What significant event took place on July 16, 1945?

• The first atomic bomb was detonated

• The Manhattan Project was initiated

• The atomic bomb was dropped on Japan

• The first nuclear reactor was built

What was the height of the mushroom cloud created by the first atomic bomb detonation?

• 40,000 feet

• 20,000 feet

• 50,000 feet

• 30,000 feet

How long after the first detonation was the atomic bomb used against Japan?

• Three months

• Two months

• Six months

• Less than a month

By the end of World War II, what was the total cost of the Manhattan Project?

• One billion dollars

• Three billion dollars

• Two billion dollars

• Four billion dollars