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A bullet does not accelerate after it leaves the barrel of a gun. It will decelerate. You could say it accelerates, but the acceleration would be negative. The bullet is accelerated by expanding gas as it moves down the barrel, and after it leaves the muzzle, there is no more acceleration imparted from expanding gas. We also find that air friction (drag) is acting to slow it down. Think this one through and it becomes obvious.

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13y ago
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Cori Wood

Lvl 1
3y ago
It would be correct to say it accelerates by definition of the term.
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Cori Wood

Lvl 1
3y ago
Positive or negative acceleration doesn't mean increasing or decreasing speed. It depends on the combination of motion direction and acceleration direction
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Cori Wood

Lvl 1
3y ago
Negative acceleration can mean the velocity is still increasing, but more slowly.
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Cori Wood

Lvl 2
3y ago

Contrary to the last answer, deceleration IS acceleration. Acceleration is a change in velocity over time. It can be an increase in speed, a decrease in speed, or a change in direction resulting in a difference in the velocity vector.

Bullets DO accelerate the entire time they are in motion, technically.

If you are instead asking if the bullet continues to INCREASE IN SPEED after leaving the barrel, the answer is no. Acceleration is not a positive speed quantity, contrary to unfortunate common usage. It is a vector quantity, and so is velocity- they have a magnitude and a direction.

Acceleration can continue, or even decrease, while VELOCITY is still increasing. As long as the velocity (change in position/change in time) is changing, acceleration is happening.

To answer the question, the acceleration of a rifle bullet regularly reaches accelerations over 100,000 times the acceleration of gravity. Often it is MILLIONS of times that, if its hypersonic rounds.

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Q: How fast does a bullet accelerate when it leaves a gun barrel?
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Continue Learning about Physics

What makes a bullet spin?

The barrel of the gun has lands and grooves (grooves and ridges) cut in a spiral. The bullet molds to these and starts to spin as it moves down the barrel. The bullet just continues to spin after it leaves the barrel.Correct. The ridges are known as 'lands'. It is possible to calculate how fast a bullet will spin if you know the twist rate of the barrel and the velocity of the bullet. My AR15 has a twist rate of 1-in-8 ie for every eight inches the bullet travels down the barrel, the bullet is rotated once. It fires a .223 round at approx 2,800 feet per second so... The formula is (bullet velocity x 720)/twist rate so... (2,800x720)/8 is an incredible 252,000RPM!


A hollow point bullet travels how fast?

Depends on the caliber, bullet weight, powder charge, and barrel length. Some are relatively slow while others extremely fast.


How fast would you have to be to dodge a bullet?

You would have to be superhuman fast.


Why does your bullet tumble when it comes out of the barrel?

Bullets fired from a rifled firearm should NOT tumble in flight. If they do so, it is a sign of problems. This may be caused by different matters that all relate to the rifling in the firearm, and the bullet. First is rifling is badly worn, if the bore is oversized for the bullet, or if rifling is badly fouled with lead/ jacketing metal/powder deposits, the bullet will not be gripped by the rifling and spun, and may not be stable in flight (tumbling) Try cleaning the bore properly, and check for excessive wear at the muzzle. The second condition is the wrong weight/length of bullet for the rate of twist of the rifling. A fast rate of twist, combined with a very fast bullet, MAY result in the bullet "stripping", and not being spun by the rifling. Or a very heavy, slow bullet may not be spun fast enough to stabilize the bullet. Most .22 rimfire rifles are rifled to shoot 40 grain bullets accurately. If loaded with a 60 grain bullet, such as the Aguilla 60 gr SSS, the bullet will not be stabilized, and may tumble in flight.


How fast does the fastest bullet travel?

4000 fps +

Related questions

What would cause a bullet to explode after it leaves a rifle barrel?

how fast it is going


How fast is a pistol bullet?

Too broad a question. Muzzle velocity is determined by the specific cartridge, barrel length, barrel tolerances, etc.


What makes a bullet spin?

The barrel of the gun has lands and grooves (grooves and ridges) cut in a spiral. The bullet molds to these and starts to spin as it moves down the barrel. The bullet just continues to spin after it leaves the barrel.Correct. The ridges are known as 'lands'. It is possible to calculate how fast a bullet will spin if you know the twist rate of the barrel and the velocity of the bullet. My AR15 has a twist rate of 1-in-8 ie for every eight inches the bullet travels down the barrel, the bullet is rotated once. It fires a .223 round at approx 2,800 feet per second so... The formula is (bullet velocity x 720)/twist rate so... (2,800x720)/8 is an incredible 252,000RPM!


What are the Differences between the cartridge and the bullet?

The bullet is the lead, or copper coated lead, slug that leaves the barrel and (sometimes) hits the target. The cartridge is the casing (usually brass) which holds the powder, and the bullet, assembled together into one complete round of ammunition. Cartridge goes into chamber of firearm, is detonated by the firing pin, and the powder burns very fast, sending the bullet out of the barrel. PLEASE be careful with firearms and use them responsibly.


A hollow point bullet travels how fast?

Depends on the caliber, bullet weight, powder charge, and barrel length. Some are relatively slow while others extremely fast.


How fast can a mp40 bullet go?

An MP40's muzzle velocity (speed of a bullet upon exiting the barrel) is about 1,250 feet/second.


If a bullet was fired down through the earth's atmosphere how long would it take and how fast would it be?

That would depend on the mass of the bullet, the bullet's velocity when it left the barrel of the gun, and from how high up the bullet was fired from.


How fast is a 308 bullet?

Typically between 2600 and 2800 feet per second. Exact speed depends on WHICH bullet, the powder charge, and the length of barrel it is fired from.


How fast would a .50 cal bullet Travel if Shot in Space?

The bullet will travel as fast as it would on earth (possibly a little faster, due to the lack of air resistance in the barrel). Once it left the barrel, it would continue with the same speed until slowed by gravity, or it entered a planetary atmosphere- or hit something.


How are humans able to accelerate?

A.) They accelerate by there bones and your heart. If your heart is fast you will be fast, if your heart is slow you will go slow.


How fast did Curiosity accelerate to get to Mars?

Really fast


How fast is a 5.56?

Depends on the bullet weight and the length of barrel it is fired from. There is a range of about 2700 fps to 3250 fps for that cartridge. Averages out to around 3050 fps.