One sometimes hears reference to a "20-kiloton" bomb. What does this mean?
A) It means 20,000 tons of nuclear explosive is used in the bomb.
B) It means that the number of "fissile" nuclei is equal to the number of trinitrotoluene molecules in 20,000 tons of TNT explosive.
C) It means that the total weight of the bomb (not just the uranium) is 20,000 tons.
D) This refers to the maximum pressure generated by the bomb when it explodes.
E) It means that the energy released by the bomb is equal to the energy released when 20,000 tons of TNT is exploded.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The term "20-kiloton" bomb refers to the energy release equivalent to that of 20,000 tons of TNT explosive. This is a measure of the bomb's explosive power, not its physical weight or specific materials used.

One Sometimes Hears Reference to a "20-Kiloton" Bomb