Phenomenon |
Energy |
Nuclear, Atomic, and Molecular | |
The average kinetic energy of a gas molecule at room temperature (300o Kelvin=27o Celsius=81o Fahrenheit) | 0.026 ev (1 ev = 1x10-19 Joules) |
Van Der Waal bonds | 0.044 ev |
Hydrogen bonds | ~0.2 ev |
Ionic bonds | 0.17 to 0.3 ev |
Single covalent bond | ~2 to 5 ev |
Double covalent bond between two carbon atoms in a molecule |
6.6 ev |
Triple covalent bond between two carbon atoms in a molecule |
8.8 ev |
Energy required to ionize a Hydrogen atom in its ground state | 13.6 ev |
Energy required to completely ionize an atom of Uranium | 1.2x105 ev |
The combined energy of the photons created by the collision of a proton and antiproton | 1.9x106 ev |
Binding energy of a Deuterium nucleus | 2.2x106 ev |
Energy of the neutron produced in a Deuterium/Tritium fusion process | 14x106 ev |
Biological | |
Energy released by a single ATP molecule in ATP hydrolysis | 0.3 to 0.6 ev |
The energy required for a single neuron to fire | ~103 ev |
Energy required for a single bacterial cell to replicate | ~106 ev |
The energy required for a human heart to beat once | 0.5 Joules |
One gram of sugar | ~1.6x103 Joules |
Energy expended by 1 day of heavy labor | 107 Joules |
Energy in the food consumed by the average person in 1 day | 1.2x107 Joules |
Technological/Fuel | |
Energy stored by a AA battery | 103 Joules |
Energy required to run a 100 Watt light bulb for 1 hour | 3.6x105 Joules |
Amount of Solar Energy (visible light) striking 1 meter2 of the U.S. surface in one hour (Sun overhead) | ~4x105 Joules |
Energy required to run an electric stove for 1 hour | ~4x107 Joules |
Energy released by the combustion of one gallon of gasoline | 108 Joules |
Electricity used by an average house for 1 year | 1010 Joules |
Energy required to heat an average house for one year | 1011 Joules |
Energy required for a one way transatlantic flight by a jet airliner | 1012 Joules |
Energy required to place the space shuttle in orbit | 1013 Joules |
Energy stored in 1 pound of Uranium 235 | 3.7x1013 Joules |
Energy released by a one megaton Hydrogen bomb | 4x1015 Joules |
Yearly fuel/electricity consumption of the United States | 7.3x1019 Joules |
Geological/Atmospheric/Oceanographic | |
Lightning bolt | 1010 Joules |
Total energy released by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake (e.g., 1994 Northridge Earthquake) | 3.2x1014 Joules |
Thunderstorm | 1015 Joules |
Hurricane | 1015 Joules |
Total energy released by a volcano (Krakatoa) | 1019 Joules |
Fossil fuel left on Earth | 2x1023 Joules |
Astronomical | |
Energy released in the collision of comet Shoemaker with Jupiter | ~1023 Joules |
Solar flare | 1024 Joules |
Average total energy output of the Sun in a single year | ~1034 Joules |
Energy released by a quasar in one second | ~1039 Joules |
Energy released by a ("medium sized") supernova | ~1045 Joules |