I've just thought...
Discussion
Simpo Two said:
Nothing is burning. It's just a big controlled hydrogen bomb fusing hydrogen to helium and the lost mass is given off as energy (e=mc2).
To give the idea of the difference in power between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction, I heard once that if you converted all the matter in a matchstick into energy, it would raise Mt Everest by an inch. Can't do the maths though; maybe another Pher can?
Sounds simple enough, e=mc^2 so you work out the mass of the matchstick then the energy released if it was and converted 100% efficiently. Then using the weight of everest (might need to be fudged a bit) you can work how much the energy produced could move it, assuming it was free standing and not connected to the ground around it. To give the idea of the difference in power between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction, I heard once that if you converted all the matter in a matchstick into energy, it would raise Mt Everest by an inch. Can't do the maths though; maybe another Pher can?
PSBuckshot said:
Slagathore said:
There was a program on last night that had a bit of this at the beginning.
Can't remember what it was called, but it had James May presenting it.
Might be worth a watch.
Anyone know what he's talking about? Can't remember what it was called, but it had James May presenting it.
Might be worth a watch.
I'd like to watch
Simpo Two said:
Nothing is burning. It's just a big controlled hydrogen bomb fusing hydrogen to helium and the lost mass is given off as energy (e=mc2).
To give the idea of the difference in power between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction, I heard once that if you converted all the matter in a matchstick into energy, it would raise Mt Everest by an inch. Can't do the maths though; maybe another Pher can?
Say a matchstick weighs 10gm. E=mc^2 gives 8.99 × 10^14 Joules. Following this calculation (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_mass_of_Mount_Everest) which seems good enough for a back of the envelope, mass of Everest is 6.399 * 10^15Kg.To give the idea of the difference in power between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction, I heard once that if you converted all the matter in a matchstick into energy, it would raise Mt Everest by an inch. Can't do the maths though; maybe another Pher can?
Use gravitational potential energy = mass x height (change of height in this case)
I get that it could lift it 14cm or ~5.5 inches.
hairykrishna said:
Simpo Two said:
Nothing is burning. It's just a big controlled hydrogen bomb fusing hydrogen to helium and the lost mass is given off as energy (e=mc2).
To give the idea of the difference in power between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction, I heard once that if you converted all the matter in a matchstick into energy, it would raise Mt Everest by an inch. Can't do the maths though; maybe another Pher can?
Say a matchstick weighs 10gm. E=mc^2 gives 8.99 × 10^14 Joules. Following this calculation (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_mass_of_Mount_Everest) which seems good enough for a back of the envelope, mass of Everest is 6.399 * 10^15Kg.To give the idea of the difference in power between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction, I heard once that if you converted all the matter in a matchstick into energy, it would raise Mt Everest by an inch. Can't do the maths though; maybe another Pher can?
Use gravitational potential energy = mass x height (change of height in this case)
I get that it could lift it 14cm or ~5.5 inches.
Interesting, so I must have heard about right (it was either an inch or a foot).
Right, I've just weighed a match and it's 0.16g.
The illustration is based on converting all the matter to energy, so that means 100% efficiency (I think).
So gentleman, back to your croculators and let's have a definitive measure of Uppness
Right, I've just weighed a match and it's 0.16g.
The illustration is based on converting all the matter to energy, so that means 100% efficiency (I think).
So gentleman, back to your croculators and let's have a definitive measure of Uppness
PW said:
R300will said:
But to get all of the energy in a matchstick converted 100% efficiently you would need a perfect anti-matchstick to annihalate it with meaning you would need to double your energies and therefore resulting in a 28cm lift?
You only need 18% efficiency or better to get the 1 inch specified.Quite a fair chunk of the mountain would get vapourised in the process too, so there would be less mass to lift.
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