Vacuum-window implosion energy estimate (source code)

= Vacuum-window implosion energy estimate
{title2=$a_0\simeq\Delta p A/M,\quad v_{\mathrm{rms}}\lesssim\sqrt{2p_0V/M}$}

When a <vacuum> vessel's window shatters, a nearly atmospheric initial pressure difference gives inward pressure <force> $\Delta p A$ on frontal <area> $A$. Dividing by the glass <mass> $M$ estimates its initial collective <acceleration>. An ideal atmospheric pressure-work budget $p_0V$ for vessel <volume> $V$ would give a collective <kinetic energy> estimate $Mv_{\mathrm{rms}}^2/2\lesssim p_0V$ if assigned entirely to the fragments. This is a model-dependent energy budget, not a universal bound on every fragment's <speed>: air motion, fragmentation, pressure equalization and wall impacts alter the transfer, and unequal sharing can accelerate a small fragment faster than the collective estimate.