Convert Calories to Megatons of TNT
Convert Calories (cal) to Megatons of TNT (Mt(TNT)) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
Mt(TNT) = cal × 1.000000000e-15
About Calories
A calorie (cal) - the thermochemical calorie - is exactly 4.184 J, defined as the heat to raise 1 g of water by 1°C. Standard since 1954. The calorie is the fundamental unit of heat measurement in thermochemistry: glucose combustion releases 669.9 kcal/mol; water vaporisation requires 539.7 cal/g. Bond dissociation energies in quantum chemistry are often quoted in kcal/mol. Note: the dietary Calorie (capital C) on food labels is 1 kcal = 4,184 J - a factor-of-1,000 difference that causes persistent confusion. 1 cal = 4.184 J = 1.163 × 10⁻³ 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
| Calories (cal) | Megatons of TNT (Mt(TNT)) |
|---|---|
| 1 cal | 1 × 10-15 Mt(TNT) |
| 2 cal | 2 × 10-15 Mt(TNT) |
| 5 cal | 5 × 10-15 Mt(TNT) |
| 10 cal | 1 × 10-14 Mt(TNT) |
| 25 cal | 2.5 × 10-14 Mt(TNT) |
| 50 cal | 5 × 10-14 Mt(TNT) |
| 100 cal | 1 × 10-13 Mt(TNT) |