Star Destroyer vs Planet Question
Moderator: Vympel
Star Destroyer vs Planet Question
As an alternate attack, if a Star Destroyer was suppose to basically pacify an Earth like Planet, how many shots would it take for the ship to melt the polar ice cap?
"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."
Thomas Paine
"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten."
Ecclesiastes 9:5 (KJV)
Thomas Paine
"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten."
Ecclesiastes 9:5 (KJV)
-
Batman
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 16462
- Joined: 2002-07-09 04:51am
- Location: Seriously thinking about moving to Marvel because so much of the DCEU stinks
Re: Star Destroyer vs Planet Question
Given that an ISD's firepower isn't exactly determinable past a three order of magnitude or so bracket, I suspect the answer is 'that depends'.Kitsune wrote:As an alternate attack, if a Star Destroyer was suppose to basically pacify an Earth like Planet, how many shots would it take for the ship to melt the polar ice cap?
'Next time I let Superman take charge, just hit me. Real hard.'
'You're a princess from a society of immortal warriors. I'm a rich kid with issues. Lots of issues.'
'No. No dating for the Batman. It might cut into your brooding time.'
'Tactically we have multiple objectives. So we need to split into teams.'-'Dibs on the Amazon!'
'Hey, we both have a Martian's phone number on our speed dial. I think I deserve the benefit of the doubt.'
'You know, for a guy with like 50 different kinds of vision, you sure are blind.'
'You're a princess from a society of immortal warriors. I'm a rich kid with issues. Lots of issues.'
'No. No dating for the Batman. It might cut into your brooding time.'
'Tactically we have multiple objectives. So we need to split into teams.'-'Dibs on the Amazon!'
'Hey, we both have a Martian's phone number on our speed dial. I think I deserve the benefit of the doubt.'
'You know, for a guy with like 50 different kinds of vision, you sure are blind.'
If there are ten million km^2 of northern ice, and the ice is, on average, 3 m deep, then there are 2e13 m^3 of ice. Given a density of 0.9 g/cm^3, starting temperature of 255.3 K and change up to 273.2 K, specific heat of 2.1 J/gK, and latent heat of melting of 335 J/g, we have
(0.9 g/cm^3)(2e19 cm^3)((2.1 J/gK)(17.9 K)+(335 J/g)) = 6.7e21 J to melt the ice caps.
As a dedicated warship, an ISD ought to be able to channel almost all of its reactor power into its guns. This gives, according to Dr Saxton, some 13.4 milliseconds of output time, if an ISD has only a little over twice an Acclamator's power output.
Another way of looking at this is with the 200 gigatons/shot estimate from the ICS2: 200 gigatons = 2e5 megatons = 8e20 J, so we only need three shots, if I've calculated this correctly.
Of course, the energy input isn't going to be evenly distributed, and you're going to have the ice flash into steam instead of evenly melt, so it may require an additional shot or two.
(0.9 g/cm^3)(2e19 cm^3)((2.1 J/gK)(17.9 K)+(335 J/g)) = 6.7e21 J to melt the ice caps.
As a dedicated warship, an ISD ought to be able to channel almost all of its reactor power into its guns. This gives, according to Dr Saxton, some 13.4 milliseconds of output time, if an ISD has only a little over twice an Acclamator's power output.
Another way of looking at this is with the 200 gigatons/shot estimate from the ICS2: 200 gigatons = 2e5 megatons = 8e20 J, so we only need three shots, if I've calculated this correctly.
Of course, the energy input isn't going to be evenly distributed, and you're going to have the ice flash into steam instead of evenly melt, so it may require an additional shot or two.
A Government founded upon justice, and recognizing the equal rights of all men; claiming higher authority for existence, or sanction for its laws, that nature, reason, and the regularly ascertained will of the people; steadily refusing to put its sword and purse in the service of any religious creed or family is a standing offense to most of the Governments of the world, and to some narrow and bigoted people among ourselves.
F. Douglass
-
Coyote
- Rabid Monkey
- Posts: 12464
- Joined: 2002-08-23 01:20am
- Location: The glorious Sun-Barge! Isis, Isis, Ra,Ra,Ra!
- Contact:
Wouldn't the energy be better spent blasting ocean near the coasts or pumping a blast into a couple of unstable fault lines? The resulting boiling water/wave and earthquake damage, respectively, would be sufficient to pacify any world that values survival.
Something about Libertarianism always bothered me. Then one day, I realized what it was:
Libertarian philosophy can be boiled down to the phrase, "Work Will Make You Free."
In Libertarianism, there is no Government, so the Bosses are free to exploit the Workers.
In Communism, there is no Government, so the Workers are free to exploit the Bosses.
So in Libertarianism, man exploits man, but in Communism, its the other way around!
If all you want to do is have some harmless, mindless fun, go H3RE INST3ADZ0RZ!!
Grrr! Fight my Brute, you pansy!
Libertarian philosophy can be boiled down to the phrase, "Work Will Make You Free."
In Libertarianism, there is no Government, so the Bosses are free to exploit the Workers.
In Communism, there is no Government, so the Workers are free to exploit the Bosses.
So in Libertarianism, man exploits man, but in Communism, its the other way around!
If all you want to do is have some harmless, mindless fun, go H3RE INST3ADZ0RZ!!
Grrr! Fight my Brute, you pansy!
-
Einhander Sn0m4n
- Insane Railgunner
- Posts: 18630
- Joined: 2002-10-01 05:51am
- Location: Louisiana... or Dagobah. You know, where Yoda lives.
My thoughts on the matter are that this scenario and others like it are a result of creativity on the part of the ISD captain and a nice intellectual exercise for us. It also helps us to appreciate the amazing power of our mascot.Coyote wrote:Wouldn't the energy be better spent blasting ocean near the coasts or pumping a blast into a couple of unstable fault lines? The resulting boiling water/wave and earthquake damage, respectively, would be sufficient to pacify any world that values survival.
