Blast Yield Calculator

Formula

The formula to calculate the Blast Yield is:

\[ BY = \left( \frac{E}{ET} \right) \times 1000 \]

Where:

\( BY \) is the blast yield (kilotons or megatons of TNT equivalent)
\( E \) is the energy released in the explosion (joules)
\( ET \) is the energy released by one ton of TNT (joules)

What is a Blast Yield?

Blast yield refers to the amount of energy released in an explosion, often used in the context of nuclear weapons. It is typically measured in terms of the equivalent amount of trinitrotoluene (TNT) that would release the same energy when exploded. The units of measurement can range from tons (referring to kilotons or megatons of TNT) to the smaller kilogram (as in the case of conventional explosives). The blast yield determines the destructive power of the explosive.

Example Problem

Let's assume the following values:

Energy Released in Explosion (E) = 4.18 x 10¹² joules
Energy Released by One Ton of TNT (ET) = 4.18 x 10⁹ joules

Using the formula:

\[ BY = \left( \frac{4.18 \times 10^{12}}{4.18 \times 10^{9}} \right) \times 1000 = 1000 \, \text{kilotons} \]

The Blast Yield is 1000 kilotons.