Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a nuclear blast?

The characteristic that is not associated with a nuclear blast is the sound wave. In the context of a nuclear explosion, the other characteristics are well-defined.

A nuclear blast generates a bright intense flash of light due to the immense heat and radiation released at the moment of detonation. This flash can cause temporary blindness and can ignite fires over a wide area.

Additionally, a shock wave is produced due to the rapid expansion of air heated by the explosion. This shock wave travels outward at high speed, causing destruction in its path and is responsible for much of the immediate damage associated with a nuclear explosion.

Earth tremors can also occur as a result of the seismic shock produced by the explosion, especially if the detonation occurs underground. These tremors can be recorded by seismographs and can affect areas far from the blast zone.

While sound waves are indeed produced as a result of the explosion, in the context of a nuclear blast, they do not serve as a defining characteristic as the other elements do. The intense heat and the force of the blast itself overshadow the sound produced, making the sound wave less significant in the immediate impact of the explosion.