X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: f996b,53f9f7cceb4d817f X-Google-Attributes: gidf996b,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2002-03-26 09:52:33 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!news.uchicago.edu!cars3.uchicago.edu!MERON Newsgroups: alt.ascii-art Subject: Re: A question for those interested in physics... References: From: meron@cars3.uchicago.edu Reply-To: meron@cars3.uchicago.edu Organization: CARS, U. of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637 Lines: 42 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.135.28.49 X-Trace: news.uchicago.edu 1017165151 128.135.28.49 (Tue, 26 Mar 2002 11:52:31 CST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 11:52:31 CST X-SessionID: mb2o8-22195-s4-6925@news.uchicago.edu X-Hash-Info: post-filter,v:1.4 X-Hash: 27e1edc6 712ad086 a2190f26 1138496a 1061e951 Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 17:52:31 GMT Xref: archiver1.google.com alt.ascii-art:16280 In article , Edwin writes: >C Lund wrote in >news:christopher.lund-FEA33D.11270526032002@news01.chello.no: > >> In article , >> "Robert Bowmaker" wrote: >> >>> Firing bullets straight up is a common occurence in many situations >>> (i.e. warning shots, shooting at the sky during a funeral for certain >>> people etc.) >>> >>> The question is: What actually happens to the bullet? Does it go into >>> space? >> >> Unlikely. I don't think the bullet goes fast enough. >> >>> Does it fall back down? >> >> Yes. >> >>> Does it burn up? >> >> Unfortunatly, no. >> >> Not only does the bullet fall back down, but when it hits the ground, >> it's travelling at roughly the same speed as when it left the gun >> (minus a little for air resistance). I'm pretty sure people have been >> killed this way. > >No, the force of gravity acting on a few ounces of lead can't accelerate it >to the same velocity it had by being fired out of the gun. If it could, >you'd never be able to fire the bullet straight up. The forces would be >equal. > Nope, that's wrong reasoning. The force of gravity is weaker but it acts over far larger distance than the force propelling the bullet out of the barrel. In the absence of air resistance, the bullet would hit the ground at the same velocity at which it was fired up. Air resistance changes this significantly, of course. Mati Meron | "When you argue with a fool, meron@cars.uchicago.edu | chances are he is doing just the same"