Comparison of Energy, Destructive Power, and Risks

1. 1000 kg of TNT

1000 kg of TNT releases about 4.184 GJ of energy, corresponding to a 1 ton TNT explosion. Its high brisance generates an instantaneous shock wave, fragmentation of surrounding materials, and severe overpressure. Handling and storage require rigorous safety protocols to prevent accidental detonation, but once detonated, there is no lingering radiological or chemical hazard beyond blast and debris.

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2. Metric Equivalent of 94-Octane Gasoline

To match 4.184 GJ from TNT, you need roughly 95 kg (≈127 L) of 94-octane gasoline, given an energy density of about 44 MJ/kg. Gasoline releases energy via deflagration rather than detonation, producing a slower pressure rise and a less sharp shock wave. The main risks are flammability and widespread fire, toxic vapor inhalation, and substantial CO₂ emissions—not a single instantaneous blast.

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3. Uranium-235 in a Commercial Reactor

In a light-water reactor, fission of U-235 yields ~82 TJ per kilogram of fissile material, but only about 3–5 % of fuel actually fissions. That translates to ~4.3 TJ thermal (≈1.4 TJ electric at 33 % efficiency) per kilogram of fresh fuel. Reactors operate steadily, converting nuclear heat to electricity over months. Major hazards include core-meltdown scenarios, radioactive releases, long-term spent-fuel storage, and proliferation if enrichment and safeguards lapse.

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4. Uranium-235 in a Nuclear Bomb (“Little Boy”)

“Little Boy” used ~51 kg of U-235 (enriched to ~80 %), of which ~1.3 % actually fissioned, releasing ~6 × 10¹³ J (≈15 kt TNT). This instantaneous energy release creates a massive blast, fireball, thermal radiation, and prompt neutron/gamma flash, followed by fallout. Risks include unparalleled immediate destruction, acute radiation sickness, long-term environmental contamination, and geopolitical proliferation threats.

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Summary Comparison

Source	Energy Density	Mass for 4.184 GJ	Yield/Application	Main Risks
TNT	4.184 MJ/kg	1000 kg	1 t TNT equivalent; high brisance	Accidental detonation; blast injuries
94-Octane Gasoline	≈44 MJ/kg	95 kg (127 L)	<1 t TNT equivalent; deflagration	Fire hazard; toxic vapors; greenhouse gas emissions
U-235 Fuel in Reactor (electric)	≈1.4 TJ/kg (electric)	≈0.003 kg	Steady 1 GWh-scale power generation	Meltdown; radiological release; long-term waste; proliferation
U-235 Fuel in Bomb	≈82 TJ/kg (fissioned)	≈0.000051 kg	15 kt TNT equivalent per ~51 kg core mass	Mass destruction; fallout; acute and chronic radiation effects

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Beyond the Numbers

• Blast vs. Burn: High explosives like TNT deliver their energy in microseconds, while gasoline deflagrates over milliseconds to seconds.
• Scale of Impact: A reactor’s energy output replaces fossil-fuel plants, avoiding CO₂ but demanding strict safety regimes.
• Proliferation & Security: Civilian fuel cycles and military weapons share U-235, making rigorous safeguards essential.
• Environmental Legacy: TNT and gasoline leave chemical debris and greenhouse gases; nuclear yields radiological byproducts requiring isolation for millennia.