Posted on 09/19/2009 5:30:50 AM PDT by lbryce
No, the accelerated mass of a kinetic energy weapon is small so the energy involved is small when compared to a nuclear weapon. Also there is no radioactive fall out so damage is limited to the target area. Now make those cannon balls the size of an aircraft carrier and then you have something like a nuke.
This means that an object having the same kinetic energy per unit mass must satisfy 0.001 v2/2 = 4184, with v expressed in meters/second. I get v = 2983 m/s = 6673 mph.
Since 20,000 mph is about 3 times this, and 32 is about 10, we can say an object going at 20,000 mph must have 1/10 the mass of the TNT equivalent of a nuke, or any other kind of bomb, to deliver the same energy. The Hiroshima bomb had a nominal yield of 15 kilotons, so we need an object of 1500 tons going 20,000 mph for the same yield. That's the mass of 5 or 6 large locomotives.
Conversely, the USS Nimitz, with a displacement of 100,000 tons, would yield a megaton at this speed ... according to my calculations!
"Hey, Achmed, the news report says the MOP will go 200 feet. Let's build our new bunkers at 500 feet below the surface!"
Interesting so for every pound in orbit we get 10 times the equivilaent in TNT as long as we can keep the V near 20,000 mph. So the question then becomes how much TNT to we need to blast thru say 500 feet of rock or concrete (Boro Bora?). Now to be effective our "Orbital Mining System" would need to deliver "boring ordinance" in say 1000 TNT units. Or 100 lbs units. Being conservative I'd say 50 units would have taken out Boro Bora with maybe a 1000 lbs final delivery. I am pretty sure all this is doable, my only concern would be the accuracy of delivery. The system would need to be accurate to within a couple of feet. But I think that also is doable. Probably illegal under treaty, but doable and far less destructive then using nuclear ordinance.
You have a good point.
However, who’s to say we are advertising its true penetration capability?
Just sayin’. . .
A shaped charge would be for penetration, like a Maverick missile. MOP fusing is designed to explode at the right time/depth. That means it is not shaped for penetration as it is it will go off at the right depth or after counting the right number of floors. If it were a shaped charge then it would go off in the direction of the charge, not employ a 360 degree blast affect at the right floor.
I just figured that in order to get penetration that two charges would be used. the first to penetrate the hardened bunker and the second delayed fuse or other triggering method to detonate the explosives. but what I gather is just a matter of kinetic energy that uses the 30000 pound weight over a small diameter with a depleted uranium (super dense) casing that penetrates ... neat.
I'd still like to see one go off...from about 3-4 miles away.
Yeah. . .me too.
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