megatonnen

Megatonnen is a non-SI unit of explosive yield used to express the total energy released by very large explosive devices, especially nuclear weapons. The term denotes the energy equivalent to one million tons of TNT. In numerical terms, one megaton is defined as 4.184 × 10^15 joules (about 4.184 petajoules). The plural megatonnen is used in Dutch and some other languages; in English the singular is megaton and the plural megatons.

The unit has historical prominence in the nuclear age, when yields for powerful weapons were described in megatons. Typical modern weapons range from tens of kilotons to a few megatons, with the largest tested devices reaching several tens of megatons. The most widely cited example is the Soviet Tsar Bomba, reported at about 50 megatons.

Megatonnen provide a simple energy-based comparison but have limitations. They assume the energy content of TNT as a reference and do not capture the distribution of energy among blast overpressure, thermal radiation, and long-term radiological effects. Differences in detonation height, environment, and weapon design also affect the observed damage, so megaton ratings are approximate indicators of potential impact.

Because it is not an SI unit, megaton (and megatonnen in some languages) is primarily used in discussions of historical weapons, energy estimation, and popular science contexts rather than in formal physics measurement. See also kiloton, TNT equivalent, explosive yield.