Atomic energy V kinetic weapons, question:

Originally posted by joe shmo
density doesn't have to do with kinetic energy.

what ATHY did was this

density = mass/Volume

so

m = d*V

and

Ke = (1/2)(d*V)(v^2)

but he too forgot the factor of (1/2)....😕

Ah, very good catch. I did indeed forget the 1/2.

Originally posted by joe beyser
One thing is certain, and that is if an object is moving fast enough to have the kinetic energy of a small atom bomb, then at least that amount of energy is required to accelerate it. No matter if it is an ounce of tungsten or a couple of tons.

Yes. That energy is either put in when the tungsten rod is sent into orbit by rockets and stored as gravitational potential energy, or the projectile is made from asteroids and in that case the gravitational potential energy was already there.

OMG I just had an idea!

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Yes. That energy is either put in when the tungsten rod is sent into orbit by rockets and stored as gravitational potential energy, or the projectile is made from asteroids and in that case the gravitational potential energy was already there.

OMG I just had an idea!

Was that the big surprise for you, that you actually had an idea?🙂