Question

When one ton of TNT is exploded, approximately 4.5 x 10^9 J is released. How much mass would this represent according to the relativistic equivalence of mass and energy?

Answer 1

Given data

*The given energy released is E = 4.5 × 10^9 J

*The value of the speed of the light is c = 3.0 × 10^8 m/s

The formula for the mass is calculated according to the relativistic equivalence of mass and energy

$E=mc^2$

Substitute the known values in the above expression as

$\begin{gathered} 4.5\times10^9=m(3.0\times10^8)^2 \\ m=5.0\times10^{-8}\text{ kg} \end{gathered}$

Hence, the mass is m = 5.0 × 10^-8 kg