Output in joules of a 4.5 Mt H-Bomb:17,080,470,000,000,000 (17 quadrillion, 80 trillion, 470 billion)

Armageddon figures (output in joules of 1oo H-bombs): 1,708,047,000,000,000,000 (1 quintillion, 708 quadrillion, 47 trillion )

Famous James T. Kirk line: “Is that a lot?”

I apologize for the abrasive and combative response (realizing a million years or so has passed since this discussion). My sarcasm was more based on the position that my solution was an obvious one, and didn’t require minute calculations to necessarily confirm. The issue with me was whether or not the human race had the technology to eliminate an in-coming asteroid as a threat, and in general terms, the explosive force of hydrogen bombs with conventional rocket and navigation technology is a feasible and practical solution.

It’s obvious, and it’s frightening that the scientific community didn’t shout “Eureka”. It’s not an issue of vanity, but it’s obviously the solution, and either the scientific community went “dirty”, silent, or brain-dead from alien rays. However, I’m acknowledging that I copped out on the issue of “math and models”, but once again, didn’t see it as needed. The formulaic factors involved are daunting, and each situation is unique. Velocity of the asteroid, velocity of the missile or missiles, size and composition of the asteroid, mass of the missiles, temperature of the asteroid, most likely absolute zero. (-469 degrees F). My argument is that H-Bombs, in general terms, can destroy any known asteroid in the solar system with the means available to deliver them.

What’s obvious is that the scientific community and public in general really don’t “get” what a hydrogen bomb is, don’t want to, it’s frightening to the point of being terrible. But if the idea is to save humanity, etc., etc.

Figures about one ( 1) 4.5 megaton Hydrogen Bomb

1. Generates 69,300,000 degrees Fahrenheit (69 million, 300 thousand degrees F) at center of explosion.

2. Energy explosive yield: 4,104,504,000,000 (4 trillion, 104 billion, 504 million) joules.

3. Equivalent to 9,000,000,000 pounds of TNT (9 billion).

That’s one H-bomb. Just one.

The MK-82 Snake Eye 500 pound bomb (Mark 82) is a standard jet aircraft dropped “dumb” bomb. It was used in Vietnam and Iraq.

(I’m acknowledging that this is a mental experiment, but believing that it’s more than overkill)

2,000 of these could guarantee, 100% guarantee (serious overkill), complete destruction of the Pentagon, a 34 acre 5 story poured concrete and steel reinforced building, “down to the foundation, down to the basement, nothing left but dust and rubble, you won’t even know that there were people inside let alone worry about survivors” kind of destruction. Is there a comment from the USAF? 2,000. Nothing left but rubble and dust down to the foundation.

One ICBM H-Bomb is equivalent to approximately 40 million MK-82’s, at least 20,000 times what would VERY likely completely “100% money-back guarantee” flatten the Pentagon.

Now, do we still want to argue about H-bombs not being able to take out asteroids that are half the composition of an average skyscraper? What one could do to Apophis that’s about 300 meters in diameter? 100?

The “Armageddon” asteroid doesn’t exist if the comment about being the size of Texas was serious. That’s suggesting a diameter of approximately 500 miles. There are moons not that large in the solar system. But regardless, the statement that 100 nukes wouldn’t “make a dent” was insane.

It’s understood that an ICBM isn’t designed to go into space, but can be easily modified to do so.
Empty weight of an ICBM runs from 30-50 tons (after fuel exhaustion). It’s velocity would be approximately 7 miles per second upon impact with the asteroid. The asteroid would probably have a velocity of 15 to 19 miles per second. A hundred of these missiles, that much mass, a head-on collision, these velocities, won’t make a dent? The kinetic energy alone would most likely tear the asteroid apart. Explosions? Even without atmosphere, 100 hydrogen bombs, each generating a fireball 70 million degrees F. An asteroid rock frozen to minus 470 degrees F, that won’t make a dent? The heat alone would most likely shatter it. An explosive force equivalent to 900 billion pounds of TNT, over 410 trillion joules, and that won’t make a dent? All these factors combined? To put it simply “Armageddon” writers, the thing wouldn’t exist, let alone not have a dent put in it.

@ 17 StJobe:
‘A typo there in your latin; it should be “per ardua ad astra”, not “asta”.’

Well, I’m sure Nick and Nora’s dog would enjoy the company.

Robert T. Permar

Robert T. Permar

http://discovermagazine.com/2008/feb/did-life-evolve-in-ice