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Okay, I've made something similar to this before but it was in a different thread and I don't think I was able to fully articulate myself so I'd like to at least try and properly explain my reasoning behind this further to see if I can get it right this time.
In the previous thread I mentioned a few issues I had with this calculation being used for the energy yield of a conversion beamer, and by extension all weaponry of similar power. I will go through them now.
Considering how relatively flimsy the above are, I would recommend the following to get a more cautious estimate.
Just as an example, using the mass of a browning M2 round (52 grams at most) and multiplying by 3.375 (since heavy bolters are about 1.5x bigger in calibre) and dividing by the density of its material, which is steel, we get a volume of (52 / 7.75 x 3.375 =) 22.645 cubic centimetres. Now using the value for subatomic destruction of steel on the calculations page gets us 6.7034E12 j/cc Multiplying these values gives 1.518 x 10^14 joules. This is 36 tons of TNT or town level.
Thanks for your time, I look forward to either being commended for my amazing intuition and logic or laughed at for my overwhelming stupidity and hubris. Whichever one ends up being the more appropriate.
In the previous thread I mentioned a few issues I had with this calculation being used for the energy yield of a conversion beamer, and by extension all weaponry of similar power. I will go through them now.
- The conversion beamer is described on the Lexicanum as follows"The conversion beamer fires a high intensity energy beam, which transforms matter into pure energy. A heavily armoured target or dense material will be rent apart as its matter explodes. The more dense the material of the target the more energy that is converted, making conversion beamers particularly good against heavily armoured troops, vehicles and buildings. The intensity of the beam increases as it extends further from the weapon, becoming increasingly dangerous, until it reaches the focal point where the beam is so intense that the energy has to be released in a violent explosion." Please note the phrases "transforms matter into pure energy" and "The more dense the material of the target the more energy that is converted". Now I would argue that due to the mention of density affecting the energy output, and not overall mass, the conversion beamer is subatomising a specific volume rather than the entire thing.
- The only argument I have seen thus far for assuming the entirety of the target being completely and utterly sub atomised is the fact that it is described as having been "annihilated". Now ordinarily I'd consider this quite strong, however considering the conversion beamer is described as doing damage to a target using the energy from the conversion, and not the actual conversion itself, I see no reason to assume this isn't simply flowery language. Would you give a footballer large town level attack potency just because his tackle is described as annihilating his opponent? No, I know I wouldn't.
- The ONLY other argument I was given for the conversion beamer being scaling from a Caestus Assault Ram which can apparently use a heavy weapon to breech ship hulls with multi-continent durability. The issue with this being that; A) Said hulls are normally dispersing said hits over a wider area, B) The melta weapon used to do this is about as far advanced of a conversion beamer as a main naval cannon is of a 9mm handgun and C) this is not even used to breach the hull, but to soften it enough for the kinetic energy of the Assault Ram to punch through.
Considering how relatively flimsy the above are, I would recommend the following to get a more cautious estimate.
- Pick a few common materials, probably stuff with already calculated sub atomisation values for the sake of saving time.
- Decide on a specific volume, I for one would suggest something similar to a heavy bolt round (basically 3.375x a .50 bullet's volume since it's around 1.5x as big and square-cube law)
- Record the results somewhere to use for the AP of the conversion beamer when used against certain targets, i.e using the sub atomisation of the human body for AP against organic enemies or steel for AP against tanks and robots.
- Scaling with other heavy weapons would be a little trickier but I'd recommend just scaling them to the value for steel since that's what was used earlier.
Just as an example, using the mass of a browning M2 round (52 grams at most) and multiplying by 3.375 (since heavy bolters are about 1.5x bigger in calibre) and dividing by the density of its material, which is steel, we get a volume of (52 / 7.75 x 3.375 =) 22.645 cubic centimetres. Now using the value for subatomic destruction of steel on the calculations page gets us 6.7034E12 j/cc Multiplying these values gives 1.518 x 10^14 joules. This is 36 tons of TNT or town level.
Thanks for your time, I look forward to either being commended for my amazing intuition and logic or laughed at for my overwhelming stupidity and hubris. Whichever one ends up being the more appropriate.