How many tonnes of TNT is required to destroy jupiter?

Answer 1

This is impossible even if Jupiter was made entirely of TNT. Read on for my argument.

You can calculate the gravitational binding energy of Jupiter roughly by assuming it is an isothermal sphere in hydrostatic equilibrium (uniform temperature, pressure balanced). In this case the binding energy (the amount of energy to disrupt it) is

1/2*G*M_j^2/R_j

where G is the newtonian gravitational constant, M_j is the mass ofJupiter and R_j is its radius. This calculates out to 3.2*10^36 joules.

One metric ton of TNT can release 4.6E*10^6 Joules of energy. Multiply this by the mass of Jupiter and if Jupiter was MADE of TNT you can only get 8.7*10^33 Joules out of combusting it. This is almost 1000 times too little energy to disrupt the planet.

Jupiter could be MADE ENTIRELY FROM TNT and it would still be gravitationally bound after combustion. While the assumptions above (hydrostatic equilbrium and isothermal) are not entirely correct, you will not find 2.5 orders of magnitude difference between that model and the binding energy of the real deal.

Answer 2

Sir:

What an interesting question...

Hmm-m-m.

Let's see.

TNT is an explosive product that is made on the Earth in
relatively small quantities (compared to the size of the whole
Earth). TNT is made from materials gathered from the Earth.

Now, the diameter of Jupiter is eleven times larger than the diameter of the Earth. So, you will be unable to gather enough
materials from the Earth to manufacture enough TNT to do the job. Worse, however, is the problem of transporting the TNT
from Earth to Jupiter which is a trip of about 588,000,000 Km.
The amount needed would be near the size of our moon, and
not likely to be easily moved over to crash into Jupiter.

Far worse for your proposal is the fact that once your TNT
package flew through the upper clouds of gases that surround
Jupiter it will have to land or crash into a 20,000 Km deep sea of liquid hydrogen which is very, very cold. Most likely there would be no detonation of the TNT. The entire mass would simply freeze solid. The deeper interior of Jupiter is most strange in that there are such intense pressures on the liquid hydrogen and other gases that the core has become hydrogen/helium metal.

Possibly you can come up with another design for the destruction of Jupiter that has a higher chance of success
in the future. Meanwhile, I would encourage you to look through a telescope at the planet Jupiter and observe the fantastic changes of color and cloud swirls that cover the planet. It is truly a sight to behold.

Answer 3

an amount equal to about 100 times the total mass of the Earth

Answer 4

more than anyone can get their hands on, so alot.
I dont think all the tnt in the world would blow up even the moon

Answer 5

You couldn't make enough TNT to do that.

Answer 6

an finite amount wher e 'x' is the amount tending to infinity

Answer 7

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TONNES OF TNT