IN MAD SCIENCE

In ‘Steel’ (1995) #21, titled “Stalker,” Steel performs a super strength feat. In Washington D.C., still must stop a terrorist attack masterminded by Metallo. During the battle, Steel knocks off Metallo’s head with his hammer.

How much super strength does it take for Steel to knock off Metallo’s head with a kinetic hammer?

STEEL HIT METALLO WITH ABOUT 2668674.17122 NEWTONS OF IMPACT FORCE IN AN ELASTIC COLLISION THAT REMOVED HIS 5.054 KILOGRAM HEAD FROM HIS BODY.

STEEL GENERATED 13343370.8561 JOULES OF KINETIC ENERGY WITH HIS KINETIC HAMMER, 153715.632262 TIMES THE DAILY ENERGY EXPENDITURE OF A HUMAN BEING PER DAY OR CLASS 100+ WITH 8086354.7288 TONS OF SUPER-STRENGTH, ENOUGH TO DESTROY A WALL.

SUPER STRENGTH FEAT:

CITY

For our database entries on DC Power Levels, visit the DC page!

Head over to Evolution of Steel in Cartoons, Movies & TV in 6 Minutes (2019) by ComicBook Debate.

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VISIT OUR CALCULATIONS

Steel is in Washington D.C. and must stop a terrorist attack masterminded by Metallo. Metallo has a new body and Steel uses a strategy used by Superman in his battles against Metallo: He knocks off Metallo’s head. Refer to the calculations in the Show/Hide Toggle.

METALLO’S DURABILITY

Typically, Metallo is made of an indestructible steel alloy. We will use Metallo’s feat in ‘Adventures of Superman’ (1992) #491, in order to calculate Metallo’s durability. Here, Metallo’s indestructible metal alloy upgraded by Cerberus actually reflects Superman’s heat vision.

NUMBER CRUNCHING

Metallo’s upgraded steel alloy reflected Superman’s heat vision. Typically, Superman’s heat vision reaches temperatures as hot as the sun’s surface, which is about 5520 degrees C. Let’s calculate the thermal energy discharged by Superman in order to estimate Metallo’s durability.

Thermal Energy = W on system = (5,520 C-20 C)(480 J/kg C)(272.155 kg*0.2) = 13343370.8561 J.

It takes more than 13343370.8561 Joules of energy in order to destroy Metallo’s upgraded steel alloy. This is merely a rough estimate and it is very possible that it would take millions of degrees Celsius, a temperature matching the sun’s core, in order to melt Metallo’s upgraded steel alloy. Our strategy is to use the Conservation of Energy to calculate the kinetic energy used by Steel’s kinetic hammer to knock off Metallo’s head from the thermal energy or work done on the system.

From 4.4: Momentum And Energy, we find:

W_onsystem=ΔKE_system⟺FΔx₁=1/2m₁v₁²

Since the change in kinetic energy equals the work done on the system, we can calculate the impact force in the elastic collision. The elastic collision caused Metallo’s head to travel five meters from its body. We previously assumed that Metallo’s head was approximately 1.8% of his body weight. This is in relation to the human brain weighing about 1.3 kg.

Let’s calculate Metallo’s Super Strength Level. According to the SUPERPOWERWIKI, Peak Human Strength is between 800-1000 lbs. Let’s use the higher value of 1000 lbs which converts to 453.592 kg. We can use Metallo’s durability ratio in comparison to a human being’s daily energy expenditure in order to calculate Metallo’s Super-Strength.

Metallo’s Super-Strength = Peak Human Strength * (153715.632262)(1/0.01857142857) = 8086354728.8 kg = 8086354.7288 ​Tons

SUPER-STRENGTH

Metallo’s upgraded indestructible steel alloy can reflect Superman’s heat vision. The energy needed to melt Metallo’s steel alloy is likely in the millions of degrees Celsius, which is as hot as the sun’s core. In our calculations, we assumed Steel matched the thermal energy of Superman’s heat vision with his kinetic hammer.

Steel’s kinetic hammer generated 13343370.8561 Joules of kinetic energy knocking off Metallo’s head in an elastic collision. Using an energy ratio, we rated Metallo’s Super-Strength to be 8086354.7288 ​Tons, which is the City Level of Super-Strength.

Toggle the Toggle Arrow below to view the calculations.

Calculations for Steel, ‘Steel’ #21

Specific Heat Capacity Of Steel = 480 J/kg C
Energy Expenditure By A Human In A Day = 7,500,000 J/day.
Mass Of Metallo = 272.155 kg.
Temperature At The Surface Of The Sun = 5520 C.

Thermal Energy = W on system = (5,520 C-20 C)(480 J/kg C)(272.155 kg*0.01857142857) = 13343370.8561 J.
Impact Force = W/d = (113343370.8561 J)/(5 m) = 2668674.17122 N. Ratio = (13343370.8561 J * 24 hr * 3600 * 1 day)/(7,500,000 J/day * 1 hr * 1 s) = 153715.632262.
Metallo’s Super-Strength = Peak Human Strength * (153715.632262)(1/0.01857142857) = (453.592 kg)(331079.82336)(1/0.01857142857) = 8086354728.8 kg = 8086354.7288 Tons.

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SOURCES

Steel Vol 2 21 in DC Database. John Henry Irons (New Earth) in DC Database. John Corben (New Earth) in DC Database. 4.4: Momentum And Energy in Physics LibreTexts. Peak Human Listing in SUPERPOWERWIKI.