<p>For visualization purposes, if the $35,000$ tonne rock was composed of something similar to basalt, with a density of $3 g/cm^3$ (also $3 t/m^3$), it would be a sphere with a diameter of $28.1$ m, or a cube with sides of $22.7$ m. </p>

<p>Using a <a href="http://www.convertalot.com/ballistic_trajectory_calculator.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">ballistic trajectory calculator</a>, to move anything $2000$ km down range, the object needs an initial velocity of $4430$ m/s ($15,948$ km/h, or Mach $12.9$ - hyper sonic speed), assuming a projection angle of $45$ degrees to the horizon. The rock would reach height of $500$ km.</p>

<p>The kinetic energy of such an object would be $3.434(10)^{14}$ J, using the equation $E_k = 0.5mv^2$.</p>

<p>When <a href="https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/energy-hurricane-volcano-earthquake2.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mount St. Helens erupted</a> in 1980, it released $24$ megatons of thermal energy. Using a <a href="https://www.unitconverters.net/energy/megaton-to-joule.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">converter</a>, this is equivalent to $1.004(10)^{17}$ J. This is 292 times the energy required to move a $35,000$ tonne rock $2000$ km.</p>

<p>Now, the energy released by Mount St. Helens was the overall energy released, not the energy given to one lump of rock and Mount St. Helens was not a supervolcano. So, could a supervolcano shoot a $35,000$ tonne rock $2000$ km away? Potentially, but unlikely. Energy always takes the path of least resistance so instead of moving a $35,000$ tonne rock $2000$ km away it will more likely move significantly more material that is in the form of dust or ash.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-02T15:44:57.777Z
2018-08-02T15:44:57.777Z
Fred
<p>From what I understand, Volcanoes eruption energy can be calculated with Kinetic Energy with finding the mass (kg) of lava &amp; debris being fired and the speed of which the debris is shot out to find it in amount of energy (joules)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-14T16:45:45.500Z
2019-01-14T16:45:45.500Z
C. Jordan
<p>Yes and <strong>Yes just not as a solid</strong>, the largest yellowstone eruption threw 240 cubic miles of ash (~2,180,000,000,000 metric tons) in to the sky. the largest volcanic bomb/block I know of is 120 metric tons. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-01T21:41:32.800Z
2018-08-01T21:41:32.800Z
John
<p>From my research, some volcanic eruptions can produce enough force to turn a 10-tonne rock into a projectile.</p>

<p>Could a supervolcano produce enough force to turn a 35,000 tonne rock into a projectile?</p>

<p>Could a supervolcano produce enough force to project a 35,000 tonne rock ~2000km away from the source?</p>

<geophysics><volcanology>
Volcanic eruption force
Chimera.Zen
# Volcanic eruption force

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-01)

From my research, some volcanic eruptions can produce enough force to turn a 10-tonne rock into a projectile.

Could a supervolcano produce enough force to turn a 35,000 tonne rock into a projectile?

Could a supervolcano produce enough force to project a 35,000 tonne rock ~2000km away from the source?

**Tags:** geophysics, volcanology


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-08-02. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

For visualization purposes, if the $35,000$ tonne rock was composed of something similar to basalt, with a density of $3 g/cm^3$ (also $3 t/m^3$), it would be a sphere with a diameter of $28.1$ m, or a cube with sides of $22.7$ m.

Using a [ballistic trajectory calculator](http://www.convertalot.com/ballistic_trajectory_calculator.html), to move anything $2000$ km down range, the object needs an initial velocity of $4430$ m/s ($15,948$ km/h, or Mach $12.9$ - hyper sonic speed), assuming a projection angle of $45$ degrees to the horizon. The rock would reach height of $500$ km.

The kinetic energy of such an object would be $3.434(10)^{14}$ J, using the equation $E\_k = 0.5mv^2$.

When [Mount St. Helens erupted](https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/energy-hurricane-volcano-earthquake2.htm) in 1980, it released $24$ megatons of thermal energy. Using a [converter](https://www.unitconverters.net/energy/megaton-to-joule.htm), this is equivalent to $1.004(10)^{17}$ J. This is 292 times the energy required to move a $35,000$ tonne rock $2000$ km.

Now, the energy released by Mount St. Helens was the overall energy released, not the energy given to one lump of rock and Mount St. Helens was not a supervolcano. So, could a supervolcano shoot a $35,000$ tonne rock $2000$ km away? Potentially, but unlikely. Energy always takes the path of least resistance so instead of moving a $35,000$ tonne rock $2000$ km away it will more likely move significantly more material that is in the form of dust or ash.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-01-14. Score: 0

From what I understand, Volcanoes eruption energy can be calculated with Kinetic Energy with finding the mass (kg) of lava & debris being fired and the speed of which the debris is shot out to find it in amount of energy (joules)


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### Answer by username_3 on 2018-08-01. Score: 0

Yes and **Yes just not as a solid**, the largest yellowstone eruption threw 240 cubic miles of ash (~2,180,000,000,000 metric tons) in to the sky. the largest volcanic bomb/block I know of is 120 metric tons.


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