answersLogoWhite

0

How far do a bullet go in the air?

Updated: 8/10/2023
User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Best Answer

There is no limit depending on the gun and the bullet. A gun could be made to shoot a bullet out of the solar system. A gun could never fire a bullet fast enough to escape Earth's gravitational field because doing so would inevitably lead to the bullet's vaporization due to its friction with the atmosphere, much as incoming meteors burn up when they enter the atmosphere. However, a rocket can escape Earth because it maintains a relatively low velocity to avoid burning up. Once in the near-vacuum of space, velocity can be increased without fear of vaporization.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

it varies with the weight of the round and the muzzle velocity of the weapon.

However it seldom exceeds a mile.

I sugguest that you watch Myth-busters.

Note:

If you can't ignore air resistance, then in addition to muzzle velocity, it also

depends on both the weight and the shape of the round.

If you can ignore air resistance, then it depends only on the muzzle velocity,

and neither the weight nor the shape of the round has any effect on the max

height of the arc.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

The following theoretical explanation ignores the impact of air resistance and other dissipative forces:

The bullet will leave the barrel with a certain amount of kinetic energy (Ek=1/2mv2). As the bullet rises, it will lose velocity and consequently kinetic energy. At the peak of its trajectory, the bullet will momentarily reach zero velocity as it changes directions and begins to fall. At this instant, the bullet will have zero kinetic energy and maximum potential energy (U=mgh). As the bullet falls, it will convert potential energy back to kinetic energy as it gains velocity. In theory, the bullet will be traveling at its original muzzle speed when it hits you.

In reality, air resistance and wind, etc will impact the bullets flight and reduce the speed upon its return to earth.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

Even if you were to take out all of the little changes that would knock a bullet off course (wind current, recoil, fixed aim), the answer is probably not. No matter how advanced your gun is or how much you change the environment around the fired bullet, your gun will never fire in a perfect line 100% of the time. Did you know that military snipers actually measure wind currents to calculate the perfect shot? ~Apple Juice

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

No, a bullet does not rise when it leaves the barrel of a gun. After it leaves the muzzle, the bullet will tend to drop slightly in a lengthy trajectory as it loses speed and gravity affects its straight path. But this leads to another issue that has everything to do with being able to hit a target.

To hit a target down range, the barrel of the weapon must be aimed along a line pointing at an angle some slight degree upward of the line of sight down the barrel. That's because the bullet begins falling immediately after exiting the muzzle. It will follow a parabolic trajectory and, if properly sighted in, the bullet will cross the line of sight at the point of aim.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

over 10,000 meters

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How far do a bullet go in the air?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Physics

How close do you have to be to a bullet to hear it go through the air?

Depends on the speed of the bullet, air temp and humidity. I hsve been about 6 feet from the path of a high powered rifle bullet, and you can hear the crack caused by the bullet breaking the sound barrier.


Why does a bullet fired comes down at rest after covering a certain distance?

Two factors- air resistance and gravity. Air resistance is simply slowing the bullet down by having to push air out of the way. Gravity acts on bullets the same way it works on a baseball- it pulls the bullet down. How far a bullet will travel is a function of it's speed, it's shape and size (air drag) and the angle in relation to the earth it was fired along. But sooner or later, they all come back down.


If a person gets shot in the back with a 22caliber bullet will the bullet travel in the body?

it depends where, what angle . if the bullet is led no it will splatter on a bone but it might go in the tissue and it depends how far you are up close it will go right though you! but if you were standing on a 4 story building and a person shoots from the ground you, will be like a paint ball it depends where, what angle . if the bullet is led no it will splatter on a bone but it might go in the tissue and it depends how far you are up close it will go right though you! but if you were standing on a 4 story building and a person shoots from the ground you, will be like a paint ball


What is the farthest a bullet could go?

Depends on the gun, the bullet, amount of propellant, angle of firing, rifling, temperature, air pressure, humidity etc An average military assault rifle can fire a bullet almost three miles on optimal trajectory.


If you throw a bullet into a fire and it goes off will it travel far?

No. It depends upon the bullet of course, but a handgun bullet usually won't hurt you if it hits you under those conditions. Another answer: Depends on the cartridge: Remember that this is deadly because the bullet and cartridge will go in opposite directions at great speeds. The larger the bullet and powder will determine the velocity and distance.