Is J/kg applicable? (For non-thermal cases)

[Zaffirenzi]

On Discord, I calculated a feat involving the pulverization of a building. Using Pixel Scaling, the total volume was 21,316.0736318 m³ (although it was divided into two sectors, since one part was pulverized while the other was fragmented), and the result was Low 7-C.

A guy told me the calculation was wrong and that I should use J/kg instead, since the result would supposedly be much lower (it was 8-B). The point is, I was wondering whether this is actually applicable, since many blogs I referenced for building or structure destruction used "(Total Volume - 80%) × Fragment/V. Fragment/Pulv" depending on the case.

According to him:

• "The value per cubic centimeter already presupposes that the energy distribution is uniform throughout the entire volume and therefore ignores empty space."
• "It's very different to conclude it that way, because it's impossible for energy to be uniformly distributed throughout an entire volume when there are empty spaces. That approximation only works when the mass involved already occupies the entire volume and not just specific parts."
• "But J/kg, without multiplication by Kelvin or Celsius, can refer to anything (fragmentation, kinetic stress), x."

 

[DenzOnigiri]

J/kg is valid and can be more physically rigorous when actual mass/material data is available. However, VSB commonly uses volumetric destruction values (J/cc) as accepted approximation standards for structural destruction feats. Therefore, using volume-based pulverization/fragmentation values is not inherently incorrect unless the volume itself is improperly estimated or includes excessive empty space beyond reasonable structural assumptions.