Convert Calories to Tons of TNT
Convert Calories (cal) to Tons of TNT (t(TNT)) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
t(TNT) = cal × 1.000000000e-9
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 Tons of TNT
A ton of TNT is an energy unit defined as exactly 10⁹ thermochemical calories = 4.184 GJ. The Trinity test (first nuclear weapon, 1945) yielded ~21 kilotons TNT = 87.9 TJ. The Tsar Bomba yielded ~50 megatons TNT = 209 PJ - the largest human-made explosion in history. Hiroshima's Little Boy yielded ~15 kilotons = 62.8 TJ. The Tunguska 1908 airburst released ~10-15 megatons TNT. Earthquake magnitude 6.0 releases ~63 kilotons TNT equivalent in seismic energy. 1 t(TNT) = 4.184 GJ = 4,184 MJ = 1,162.8 kWh.
Quick Reference Table
| Calories (cal) | Tons of TNT (t(TNT)) |
|---|---|
| 1 cal | 1 × 10-9 t(TNT) |
| 2 cal | 2 × 10-9 t(TNT) |
| 5 cal | 5 × 10-9 t(TNT) |
| 10 cal | 1 × 10-8 t(TNT) |
| 25 cal | 2.5 × 10-8 t(TNT) |
| 50 cal | 5 × 10-8 t(TNT) |
| 100 cal | 1 × 10-7 t(TNT) |