Wikipedia says the yield of the Davy Crockett bomb was between 10 and 20 Tons of TNT.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett_(nuclear_device) On Fri, Jun 22, 2018 at 4:33 PM, <mix...@bigpond.com> wrote: > In reply to Jed Rothwell's message of Fri, 22 Jun 2018 10:08:41 -0400: > Hi, > [snip] > >AM <mix...@bigpond.com> wrote: > > > >If all the fission energy in 20 lb. of Pu239 were released it would be > over > >> 175000 tons of TNT. > >> > > > >I do not think it is possible to release all of the energy from the > fission > >explosion fuel. > > > > > > > >> If the bomb only yields 20 tons it is incredibly inefficient. I would > >> expect > >> more like 20000 tons. > >> > > > >I think that was deliberate. They did not want a big explosion because the > >rocket only flew a few miles. Modern fusion bombs have variable yield > >("dial-a-yield") meaning they waste fuel at the lower yields. > > 1) I was trying to imply that the "20 tons" may have been a typo. > 2) You have switched from fission to fusion. > 3) Even if the 20 tons figure was correct, and deliberate, it would leave > nearly > all the Pu239 intact, implying quite a radioactive mess spread around the > environment and into the air, just 20 miles away. > > I wouldn't want to be downwind of that. > > > >- Jed > Regards, > > > Robin van Spaandonk > > local asymmetry = temporary success > >
