Trying to comprehend the explosive power of a gamma ray burst?

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SUMMARY

A gamma ray burst (GRB) releases approximately 1045 to 1047 joules of energy, equating to about 1030 to 1032 megatons of TNT. This immense energy output is comparable to the rest mass energy of the Sun, illustrating the extraordinary power of GRBs. Understanding these figures is crucial for astrophysicists studying cosmic events and their implications.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of astrophysics concepts
  • Familiarity with energy units such as joules and megatons
  • Knowledge of gamma ray bursts and their characteristics
  • Understanding of mass-energy equivalence (E=mc2)
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mechanisms behind gamma ray bursts
  • Explore the implications of GRBs on cosmic evolution
  • Study the energy output of other astronomical phenomena
  • Learn about the detection methods for gamma ray bursts
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Astronomers, astrophysicists, and students interested in high-energy cosmic events and their effects on the universe.

The_Absolute
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I'm not sure if this thread fits into this particular forum, but about how many megatons would be equal to the explosive power of a gamma ray burst?
 
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The_Absolute said:
I'm not sure if this thread fits into this particular forum, but about how many megatons would be equal to the explosive power of a gamma ray burst?

A GRB typically puts out about ~1045-1047 joules, which is about 1030-1032 megatons TNT equivalent.

Or, if you dig big number names, that's about 1-100 nonillion (short scale) joules. Roughly the rest mass energy of the Sun.
 
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