Question
Could 2.68 x 10^15 joules destroy a mountain?
Answers
Answered by
GPT 3.5
It is highly unlikely that 2.68 x 10^15 joules would be enough energy to completely destroy a mountain. The amount of energy required to completely obliterate a large mountain would be many orders of magnitude higher.
To put things in perspective, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II released an estimated energy of about 63 terajoules (6.3 x 10^13 joules). While devastating, this energy release was not enough to completely destroy a mountain.
Mountains are massive structures made of solid rock, which requires an enormous amount of energy to break apart. The energy required to destroy a mountain would likely be in the order of exajoules (10^18 joules) or even higher.
Hence, 2.68 x 10^15 joules would certainly cause some damage, but it would not be sufficient to destroy an entire mountain.
To put things in perspective, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II released an estimated energy of about 63 terajoules (6.3 x 10^13 joules). While devastating, this energy release was not enough to completely destroy a mountain.
Mountains are massive structures made of solid rock, which requires an enormous amount of energy to break apart. The energy required to destroy a mountain would likely be in the order of exajoules (10^18 joules) or even higher.
Hence, 2.68 x 10^15 joules would certainly cause some damage, but it would not be sufficient to destroy an entire mountain.