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This topic has moved here: Subject: Regarding the NOVA bomb- Physics Students Needed!
  • Subject: Regarding the NOVA bomb- Physics Students Needed!
Subject: Regarding the NOVA bomb- Physics Students Needed!

Generalizations.
Helping idiots hate other idiots since people have existed.

The NOVA bomb was mentioned in Ghosts of Onyx as a bomb with "planet killing" capabilities. Although we were never given an exact payload, someone on the Halo: Wiki calculated a low average of 1.2 Petatons. However, I question this average.

He uses the inverse square law to calculate the power of the bomb. He assumes that the moon is 2km^2 and 5000 miles away from the bomb. That's fine.

Source Energy / (4 x Pi x R^2) = Energy Applied
x / 4 x 3.14 x 5000^2 = 8 megatons -> x = 1.2 Petatons

That makes mathematical sense, but I have no idea where the 8 megatons came from. No where, in science or in Halo, is it stated that 8 megatons can shatter 2km^2 of moon. Did he pull this number out of his ass, or am I missing something here?

  • 09.26.2011 7:55 PM PDT

I'd imagine he put a random number because most readers do not hold knowledge of megatons and sich.

  • 09.26.2011 8:57 PM PDT
  • gamertag: opog
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Possibly the stardestroyer.net asteroid destruction calculator. 8 megatons is the ~energy needed to fragment a rocky asteroid with a 2 km diameter into pieces no smaller than 10 m. Though it does assume a buried explosive, could be useful for a rough estimate.

[Edited on 09.26.2011 9:18 PM PDT]

  • 09.26.2011 9:17 PM PDT

Posted by:ScubaToaster
Posted by: HipiO7
This man, this man right here put it so eloquently that I actually cancelled my own 2000+ word long post.
/slow clap for respect


:)
The person who said participating is important, not winning, obviously never won anything.

Posted by: opogjijijp
Possibly the stardestroyer.net asteroid destruction calculator. 8 megatons is the ~energy needed to fragment a rocky asteroid with a 2 km diameter into pieces no smaller than 10 m. Though it does assume a buried explosive, could be useful for a rough estimate.


You just love these type of threads, dont you?

  • 09.27.2011 7:14 AM PDT

Generalizations.
Helping idiots hate other idiots since people have existed.


Posted by: opogjijijp
Possibly the stardestroyer.net asteroid destruction calculator. 8 megatons is the ~energy needed to fragment a rocky asteroid with a 2 km diameter into pieces no smaller than 10 m. Though it does assume a buried explosive, could be useful for a rough estimate.


That's probably where he got it from, thanks!

  • 09.27.2011 8:05 AM PDT

No, ExcessiveFaun6 is not my real gamertag.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cortana: The message just repeats. "Regret, Regret, Regret."
Miranda: Any idea what it means?
Sgt. Johnson: Dear Humanity... we regret being alien bastards. We regret coming to Earth. And we most definitely regret that the Corps just blew up our raggedy-ass fleet!
Marines: Hoo-rah!

These type of threads are why I <3 Bungie forums haha.

  • 09.27.2011 8:45 AM PDT


Posted by: opogjijijp
Possibly the stardestroyer.net asteroid destruction calculator. 8 megatons is the ~energy needed to fragment a rocky asteroid with a 2 km diameter into pieces no smaller than 10 m. Though it does assume a buried explosive, could be useful for a rough estimate.

It states that the explosive is buried inside it.
So he is wrong.
You should recalculite the effect of distance, and energy of anomalys, like the gravity of planet and the main explosive power.
Well maybe he did include the distance betveen the explosive and target but still, that number seems wrong.

Sorry for bad grammar.

  • 09.27.2011 11:33 AM PDT

Generalizations.
Helping idiots hate other idiots since people have existed.


Posted by: AnubissWarior

You should recalculite the effect of distance, and energy of anomalys, like the gravity of planet and the main explosive power.
Well maybe he did include the distance betveen the explosive and target but still, that number seems wrong.

Sorry for bad grammar.


That would be the best way to do it. However, we lack almost all of that information, as the novel doesn't give us that data.

  • 09.27.2011 4:34 PM PDT

Weapon of Oppression

I could've sworn the book said something about it being 500 gigatons.

  • 09.28.2011 7:51 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
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Posted by: oaklandp8ntbalr
Did he pull this number out of his ass, or am I missing something here?


What you are missing is the simple realization that yes, science fiction writers must "guestimate" on some things in order two make things plausible.

To my knowledge, nobody has actually performed that action, so exact numbers would not be possible to calculate.. only estimation or guessing can be performed... which I like calling "guestimation."

  • 09.28.2011 12:03 PM PDT