Kiloton: meaning, definitions and examples

measurement unit

A kiloton is a unit of measurement equal to 1,000 metric tons. It is commonly used to quantify explosive forces or the yield of nuclear weapons. The term is often associated with the weight of large amounts of material, particularly in contexts involving military or atmospheric sciences. It is a more manageable figure when discussing significant quantities of mass that would otherwise be cumbersome to express in tons.

explosive yield, metric kiloton, tactical nuclear weapon

Examples of usage

• The bomb had a yield equivalent to 15 kilotons.

• The earthquake released energy comparable to 10 kilotons of TNT.

• A kiloton of waste could pose a serious environmental threat.