OK - I never had physics in high school, so I have a question for those that did: you see these stories - the latest happened in Sapulpa - where a falling bullet penetrates a house roof, etc. How is this possible? Never made sense to me, as would not any mass only fall (gravity) as fast as it's own mass would allow? Would a 200gr projectile for example be able to fall fast enough according to it's mass to achieve "300 to 700 fps" as reported by the Sapulpa Police? Would obviously make sense that a .45 cal projectile would fall faster than a .22 cal projectile, but I never quite understood how that much velocity could be achieved due to a bullet only having x amount of mass?
In short, you’re understanding is wrong. The limitation on max velocity is the object’s aerodynamics. A sleek .22 bullet will fall faster than a round .45.
But only to a point, though, wouldn't it? (Considering either didn't tumble on the fall, which would skew aerodynamics). I'm sure I'm wrong. Just an interesting topic that I've never been able to quite wrap my head around.
It is fact people have died from falling bullets..and people have had them go through the roof.
some calculator for you.
http://www.calctool.org/CALC/eng/aerospace/terminal
some calculator for you.
http://www.calctool.org/CALC/eng/aerospace/terminal
Terminal velocity has nothing to do with weight or mass, only aerodynamics and wind resistance. The damage inflicted will be dependent upon mass, however.
In an atmosphere, a streamlined bullet will fall faster that a round or blunt one(assuming it falls straight) regardless of its size assuming both bullets are made out of the same material. However, the more massive bullet will hit with more force. Each object will accelerate until it reaches what is called its terminal velocity which is the speed where the aerodynamic drag has increased to the point where it equals the pull of gravity. For a human, that is around 175 feet per second(About 120 MPH).
The limiting speed of a falling object in air is dependent upon its aerodynamics.
In a vacuum, they'll fall at the same rate and will continue to accelerate uninhibited regardless of shape or even the composition. The more massive object will still hit with more force, though.
Woody
The limiting speed of a falling object in air is dependent upon its aerodynamics.
In a vacuum, they'll fall at the same rate and will continue to accelerate uninhibited regardless of shape or even the composition. The more massive object will still hit with more force, though.
Woody
The joker in the deck is that most "falling" projectiles are not truly free falling, but are toward the end of the parabola from being shot at an angle instead of straight up. The maximum range of a bullet is obtained by shooting with the gun pointed up about 30 degrees, and the bullet hits with a substantial part of its velocity remaining. I teach physics, but once you understand the bullet is still following its fired trajectory, a ballistics chart can be used by anyone. The rare bullet that is fired straight up will fall at terminal velocity, which is much slower than the bullet still following its fired parabola.
In this case, the bullet still retains some of the force and velocity that shoved it down the barrel.
Woody
Remember, the world record for survived freefall by a human being is something like 35,000 feet. A lady in a plane blown up by terrorists landed in the roof of a church, I think, and survived. Somewhere in Germany or eastern Europe or something. Back in the 70s? I don't remember, but it's a pretty incredible story, if you think about it. I'm just too lazy to look it up right now. lol
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