Convert British Thermal Units to Megatons of TNT
Convert British Thermal Units (BTU) to Megatons of TNT (Mt(TNT)) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
Mt(TNT) = BTU × 2.521644007e-13
About British Thermal Units
A British Thermal Unit (BTU) - the heat to raise 1 lb of water by 1°F - equals exactly 1,055.05585262 J. It dominates US HVAC: room air conditioners are rated in BTU/h (5,000-24,000 BTU/h = 1.5-7.0 kW); one ton of refrigeration is exactly 12,000 BTU/h. Natural gas is billed in therms (100,000 BTU) in the US. Higher heating values: natural gas ~1,020-1,050 BTU/ft³; No. 2 fuel oil ~138,700 BTU/US gal; propane ~91,500 BTU/US gal. 1 BTU = 1,055.06 J = 252.164 cal = 0.29307 Wh.
About Megatons of TNT
A megaton of TNT (Mt(TNT)) = 10⁶ tons of TNT = exactly 4.184 PJ. The Soviet Tsar Bomba (1961) yielded ~50 Mt - the largest human-made explosion ever, with a fireball 8 km in diameter. Castle Bravo (1954) yielded ~15 Mt, 2.5× its 6 Mt design yield. Modern thermonuclear warheads typically range from 0.1-1.2 Mt. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake released ~500 Mt in seismic energy. The Krakatoa 1883 eruption released ~200 Mt; Tambora 1815 ~33,000 Mt. 1 Mt(TNT) = 4.184 PJ = 1,162,800 MWh.
Quick Reference Table
| British Thermal Units (BTU) | Megatons of TNT (Mt(TNT)) |
|---|---|
| 1 BTU | 2.522 × 10-13 Mt(TNT) |
| 2 BTU | 5.043 × 10-13 Mt(TNT) |
| 5 BTU | 1.261 × 10-12 Mt(TNT) |
| 10 BTU | 2.522 × 10-12 Mt(TNT) |
| 25 BTU | 6.304 × 10-12 Mt(TNT) |
| 50 BTU | 1.261 × 10-11 Mt(TNT) |
| 100 BTU | 2.522 × 10-11 Mt(TNT) |