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 |
Van Der Waal bonds |
0.044 |
Hydrogen bonds |
~0.2 |
Ionic bonds |
0.17 to 0.3 |
Single covalent bond |
~2 to 5 |
Double covalent bond
between two carbon atoms in a molecule |
6.6 |
Triple covalent bond
between two carbon atoms in a molecule |
8.8 |
Energy required to ionize a Hydrogen atom in
its ground state |
13.6 |
Energy required to completely ionize an atom of Uranium |
1.2x105 |
The combined energy of the photons created by
the collision of a proton and antiproton |
1.9x106 |
Binding energy of a Deuterium nucleus |
2.2x106 |
|
14x106
|
Biological |
Energy released by a single ATP molecule in ATP hydrolysis |
0.3 to 0.6 |
The energy required for a single neuron to fire |
~103 |
Energy required for a single bacterial cell to replicate |
~106 |
The energy required for a human heart to beat once |
0.5 Joules |
One gram of sugar |
~1.6x103 Joules |
The rate at which the human body must burn energy in order
to maintain a body temperature of 98.6o Fahrenheit (assuming
that the individual is wearing light clothing and that the surrounding air
temperature is 72o Fahrenheit) |
|
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 |
Average total energy released by the average total rainfall
on Earth in one year |
|
Energy of a Tsunami |
|
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 |