How much energy would be released if we could completely convert the mass of a 4.50 kilogram rock into energy? Joules One "megaton" is the amount of energy released by the detonation of 1 million tons of dynamite. One megaton is equal to 4.0 x 1015 Joules. How many megatons of energy would be released by the conversion of this rock into energy?

4.05 x 10^17 J

101.25 megaton

Explanation:

mass of rock, m = 4.5 kg

velocity of light, c = 3 x 10^8 m/s

According to the Einstein mass energy equivalence

Energy, E = m x c^2

E = 4.5 x 3 x 3 x 10^16 = 4.05 x 10^17 J

According to the question, 1 megaton = 4 x 10^15 J

So, 4.05 x 10^17 J = 4.05 x 10^17 / (4 x 10^15) Megaton = 101.25 megaton

Thus, teh energy released by 4.5 kg rock is 101.25 megaton.