Convert Ergs to Kilotons of TNT
Convert Ergs (erg) to Kilotons of TNT (kt(TNT)) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
kt(TNT) = erg × 2.390057361e-20
About Ergs
An erg is the CGS unit of energy - the work done by one dyne through one centimetre - exactly 10⁻⁷ J. Despite SI adoption, the erg persists in astrophysics: the Sun's luminosity is 3.828 × 10³³ erg/s; gamma-ray burst isotropic energies are quoted in units of 10⁵¹ erg ('one foe'). Surface tension of water is 72.8 dyn/cm; the work to create 1 cm² of new water-air interface is 72.8 erg. Earthquake seismic moment M₀ is in dyn·cm = erg; the 2004 Boxing Day earthquake had M₀ ≈ 10²³ J = 10³⁰ erg. 1 erg = 10⁻⁷ J = 624.15 eV.
About Kilotons of TNT
A kiloton of TNT (kt(TNT)) = 10³ tons of TNT = exactly 4.184 TJ. It is the standard unit for sub-megaton nuclear weapon yields. Hiroshima's Little Boy: ~12-18 kt; Nagasaki's Fat Man: ~19-23 kt. The W88 warhead (Trident II) is ~475 kt; the W76 is ~100 kt. The Beirut port explosion (2020): estimated 0.5-1.1 kt. A magnitude 5.0 earthquake releases ~0.5-2 kt of seismic energy. A kiloton blast creates a fireball ~90-100 m radius and a lethal thermal radius of ~1-2 km. 1 kt(TNT) = 4.184 TJ = 1,162.8 MWh.
Quick Reference Table
| Ergs (erg) | Kilotons of TNT (kt(TNT)) |
|---|---|
| 1 erg | 2.39 × 10-20 kt(TNT) |
| 2 erg | 4.78 × 10-20 kt(TNT) |
| 5 erg | 1.195 × 10-19 kt(TNT) |
| 10 erg | 2.39 × 10-19 kt(TNT) |
| 25 erg | 5.975 × 10-19 kt(TNT) |
| 50 erg | 1.195 × 10-18 kt(TNT) |
| 100 erg | 2.39 × 10-18 kt(TNT) |