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What's Heavier Than a Ton?

Published in Mass Measurement 2 mins read

When referring to units of mass, especially in a metric context as provided by the reference, megatonnes (Mt) and gigatonnes (Gt) are significantly heavier than a tonne. While the question uses "ton," the provided reference specifies "tonne," which is the metric equivalent often called a "metric ton."

A tonne (t) is a unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms, or 1,000,000 grams. Units larger than a tonne are used to measure extremely large masses.

Understanding Mass Units Beyond a Tonne

According to the GreenFacts Glossary: Mass (weight) Units, the following units are defined in relation to grams, clearly illustrating which are heavier than a tonne:

Unit Symbol Mass in Grams (g) Relationship to 1 Tonne
Gigatonne Gt 1,000,000,000,000,000 g 1,000,000 Megatonnes
Megatonne Mt 1,000,000,000,000 g 1,000,000 Tonnes
Tonne t 1,000,000 g 1 Tonne
Kilogram kg 1,000 g 0.001 Tonne
Gram g 1 g 0.000001 Tonne

Megatonne (Mt)

A megatonne (Mt) is a unit of mass equal to 1,000,000 tonnes. As per the GreenFacts glossary, 1 megatonne equals 1,000,000,000,000 grams. This unit is commonly used for:

  • Measuring the yield of large explosions, such as nuclear weapons.
  • Estimating the mass of large geological formations or ice sheets.

Gigatonne (Gt)

A gigatonne (Gt) is an even larger unit, equivalent to 1,000,000 megatonnes or 1,000,000,000 tonnes. The reference states that 1 gigatonne equals 1,000,000,000,000,000 grams. Gigatonnes are used to quantify:

  • Global-scale phenomena, like annual carbon emissions.
  • The total mass of vast natural resources or atmospheric gases.

In summary, while a "ton" can have various definitions (e.g., short ton, long ton), in the context of the provided metric mass units, a "tonne" is the baseline. Both megatonnes and gigatonnes represent masses significantly heavier than a single tonne.