X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: f996b,53f9f7cceb4d817f X-Google-Attributes: gidf996b,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2002-03-26 16:48:12 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news2.google.com!news1.google.com!sn-xit-02!sn-post-01!supernews.com!corp.supernews.com!not-for-mail From: "GerardS" Newsgroups: alt.ascii-art Subject: Re: A question for those interested in physics... Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 18:43:11 -0600 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com Message-ID: References: <3CA11406.173A8D2F@csse.monash.edu.au> X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4807.1700 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4807.1700 X-Complaints-To: newsabuse@supernews.com Lines: 34 Xref: archiver1.google.com alt.ascii-art:16295 | David Squire wrote: |> Edwin wrote: |>> C Lund wrote: |>>> 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. | Back to physics class for you. In the absence of air resistance the speed will | be identical. | | Think: what force is slowing the bullet from its initial speed to rest? What | force accelerates the bullet from rest as it descends? How long does it act | for in each case? Not A force, but two forces are acting on the bullet to slow it down: gravity, and air resistance. It should be noted that air resistance is larger when the bullet speed is higher. ----------------------------------- Gerard S.