What is the terminal velocity of a falling bullet?

Answer 1

The Terminal velocity depends on a few properties of the object falling and the medium that the object is falling through.

1. The mass of the object

F=m*a where in this case a = gravity

A balloon the size of a Bowling ball and a bowling ball do not have the same terminal velocity due to the mass of each. The balloon is a very small mass and the resulting force due to gravity is also very small. Therefore, the wind friction required to counter the gravitational force is very small. The bowling ball has a rather large mass in comparison and the wind friction required to counter its gravitational force is large, so the falling/terminal velocity is much higher.

2. The shape of the object

A flat piece of paper will float down more slowly than a piece of paper that is crumpled up in a ball.

3. The orientation of the object

Facing one way the object may present a larger surface area to the oncoming wind slowing it down. Facing another way, a smaller surface area may be presented to the wind allowing the object to fall faster.

4. The viscosity of the medium the object is falling through

Oil is less dense than water, but it is more viscous and objects fall/sink slower through oil than through water.

There may be a couple of others.

So what is falling through what medium?

Old answer:

120 mph

Answer 2

There is no such thing as the terminal velocity of a plane unless you consider the speed of light to be which requires unlimited energy to reach. Terminal velocity refers to objects falling to earth under the force of gravity and have wind resistance(drag). Wind resistance is an equation based on the velocity of an object which means that at one point acceleration due to gravity and the drag force have equal forces which means the object remains at a constant velocity (terminal velocity). Planes have more then just gravity and wind resistance on them which means the more powerful the force that is created by the planes engine the faster the plane can go.

Answer 3

The terminal velocity would be affected by the weight of the bullet, the bullet's aerodynamic stability and its composition (density). For a typical 150 grain, .30-cal, spire point, jacketed lead bullet that is fired upward it will stop spinning as it reaches apogee. As it falls, it can be expected to begin tumbling. That tumbling makes it very difficult to predict an exact number but you can expect the terminal velocity to be between 150 to 250 miles per hour. There are reported deaths that have resulted from people being struck by bullets falling back to earth.

Cecil Adams reports a U.S. Army test that resulted in a terminal velocity of 300 feet per second (205 miles per hour) for a .30-cal bullet. See the link.

Answer 4

The terminal velocity of a Baseball at sea-level is 33 m/s or approximately 74 miles per hour.

Answer 5

Estimated around 175mp/h but it depends on the air density and humidity!

Answer 6

13.2kg m/s*s

Answer 7

20 miles per hour

Answer 8

45mi/h