User:Milton Beychok/Sandbox: Difference between revisions
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The TNT equivalent is a a unit of energy commonly used to quantify the energy released (or "yielded") in explosions. The ton (or tonne)<ref name=ton group=note/> of TNT equivalent is equal to 4.184 gigajoules (GJ)<ref name=NIST/> which is approximately the amount of energy released in the detonation of one ton of TNT. | |||
The kiloton and megaton of TNT have commonly been used to rate the energy yield, and hence destructive power, of nuclear weapons. These units have been used in various nuclear weapon control treaties. | |||
==Notes== | |||
{{reflist|group=note|refs= | |||
<ref name=ton group=note>The "ton" usually refers to the "short ton" that is a [[U.S. customary units|U.S. customary unit]] equal to 2,000 [[pound]]s which, in turn, equals 0.907 [[tonne]] (the metric ton which is 1,000 kilograms). In the context of using TNT equivalents, a ton is taken to be synonymous with a tonne and both are defined as being equal to 1,000 kilograms.</ref> | |||
}} | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist|refs= | |||
<ref name=NIST>[http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP811/appenB8.html NIST Guide to SI Units, Appendix B.8 Factors for Units Listed Alphabetically] NIST defines the ton of TNT equivalent as being exactly 4.184 GJ.</ref> | |||
}} | |||
Revision as of 12:50, 9 June 2011
The TNT equivalent is a a unit of energy commonly used to quantify the energy released (or "yielded") in explosions. The ton (or tonne)[note 1] of TNT equivalent is equal to 4.184 gigajoules (GJ)[1] which is approximately the amount of energy released in the detonation of one ton of TNT.
The kiloton and megaton of TNT have commonly been used to rate the energy yield, and hence destructive power, of nuclear weapons. These units have been used in various nuclear weapon control treaties.
Notes
- ↑ The "ton" usually refers to the "short ton" that is a U.S. customary unit equal to 2,000 pounds which, in turn, equals 0.907 tonne (the metric ton which is 1,000 kilograms). In the context of using TNT equivalents, a ton is taken to be synonymous with a tonne and both are defined as being equal to 1,000 kilograms.
References
- ↑ NIST Guide to SI Units, Appendix B.8 Factors for Units Listed Alphabetically NIST defines the ton of TNT equivalent as being exactly 4.184 GJ.