In
nuclear weapons, a
fizzle occurs when the
testing of a nuclear bomb grossly fails to meet its expected
yield. The reason(s) for the failure can be linked to improper bomb design, poor construction, or lack of expertise. All countries that have had a nuclear weapons testing program have experienced some fizzles. A fizzle can spread
radioactive material throughout the surrounding area, involve a partial
fission reaction of the fissile material, or both. For practical purposes, a fizzle can still have considerable explosive yield when compared to conventional weapons.