Table of Contents
What Is TNT Equivalent?
TNT equivalent expresses energy in terms of trinitrotoluene mass. 1 kg TNT = 4.184 MJ. Used in military science, mining, astronomy, nuclear physics, and earthquake measurement. Hiroshima was ~15 kilotons; the Chicxulub impact was ~100 teratons.
TNT is a moderate explosive, chosen as reference by historical convention. RDX and HMX have ~1.6x its energy density. The unit provides intuitive scale comparison across vastly different energy phenomena.
Conversion
1 kg TNT = 4.184 × 10&sup6; J
1 kiloton = 4.184 × 10¹² J
Energy Comparisons
| Event | TNT Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Hand grenade | 0.17 kg |
| Lightning bolt | 239 kg |
| MOAB | 11 tons |
| Hiroshima | 15 kt |
| Tsar Bomba | 50 Mt |
FAQ
How does it relate to earthquakes?
Each Richter unit = ~31.6x more energy. M4 = ~6 tons TNT. M6 = ~6000 tons. M9.1 (Tohoku 2011) = ~600 million tons.