Convert Kilotons of TNT to Terajoules

Convert Kilotons of TNT (kt(TNT)) to Terajoules (TJ) instantly and accurately.

Conversion Formula

TJ = kt(TNT) × 4.184

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.

About Terajoules

A terajoule (TJ) is 10¹² J - the scale of nuclear yields in the kiloton range and large industrial accidents. One kiloton of TNT = 4.184 TJ; the Hiroshima bomb (15 kt) released ~62.8 TJ. The Halifax Explosion (1917) released ~3 TJ. A 500 MW coal plant consumes ~51.4 TJ/h of thermal input. Daily primary energy of Denmark is ~250-300 TJ; the UK ~3,800 TJ/day. A 1 GW nuclear reactor at 90% capacity factor generates ~77.7 TJ/day. 1 TJ = 10¹² J = 277,778 kWh = 277.78 MWh = 23.88 ktoe.

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