1. What is the Blast Radius Formula?

The blast radius formula estimates the destructive radius of a nuclear explosion based on its yield. The formula accounts for the non-linear relationship between explosive yield and destructive radius.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the blast radius formula:

Where:

• \( r \) — Blast radius in kilometers
• \( Y \) — Yield of the nuclear weapon in kilotons
• 0.28 — Empirical constant based on nuclear blast effects

Explanation: The cube root relationship reflects how explosive effects scale with yield due to three-dimensional expansion of the blast wave.

3. Importance of Blast Radius Calculation

Details: Understanding blast radius helps in assessing potential damage from nuclear explosions, emergency planning, and studying historical nuclear events.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the yield of the nuclear weapon in kilotons (1 kiloton = 1000 tons of TNT equivalent). The value must be greater than 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does the blast radius include?
A: The radius includes the area of near-total destruction from blast overpressure (typically 5 psi or more).

Q2: How accurate is this formula?
A: It provides a rough estimate. Actual effects vary based on detonation height, terrain, and atmospheric conditions.

Q3: What about thermal radiation radius?
A: Thermal effects typically extend 2-3 times farther than the blast radius shown here.

Q4: How does this compare to historical bombs?
A: The Hiroshima bomb (~15kt) had a blast radius of about 1.6km, while modern thermonuclear weapons can have much larger radii.

Q5: Are there different formulas for different effects?
A: Yes, separate formulas exist for thermal radiation, ionizing radiation, and fallout patterns.