1. What is the Nuke Blast Radius Equation?

The blast radius equation estimates the distance from ground zero that experiences significant destruction from a nuclear explosion. It's based on the cube root scaling law that relates explosive yield to destructive radius.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the blast radius equation:

Where:

• \( r \) — Blast radius in kilometers
• \( Y \) — Nuclear yield in kilotons of TNT
• 0.28 — Empirical constant for airburst explosions

Explanation: The cube root relationship reflects how explosive energy expands three-dimensionally through the atmosphere.

3. Importance of Blast Radius Calculation

Details: Understanding blast radius helps in nuclear weapons effects modeling, civil defense planning, and historical analysis of nuclear tests.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the nuclear yield in kilotons (1 kiloton = 1000 tons of TNT equivalent). The calculator works for yields from small tactical nukes to strategic weapons.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does the blast radius include?
A: This calculates the radius for 5 psi overpressure, which causes severe damage to most buildings.

Q2: How accurate is this formula?
A: It provides a rough estimate - actual effects depend on burst height, terrain, and atmospheric conditions.

Q3: What about thermal radiation radius?
A: Thermal effects extend much farther than the blast radius - about 3-5 times farther for serious burns.

Q4: How does this compare to historical bombs?
A: Hiroshima's 15kt yield had ~1.6km blast radius; modern 100kt warheads have ~3km radius.

Q5: What's the constant for surface bursts?
A: Surface bursts use ~0.33 instead of 0.28 due to ground reflection effects.