X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: f996b,53f9f7cceb4d817f X-Google-Attributes: gidf996b,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2002-03-28 03:32:42 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!newsfeeds.belnet.be!news.belnet.be!colt.net!newspeer.clara.net!news.clara.net!peernews!peer.cwci.net!news5-gui.server.ntli.net!ntli.net!news2-win.server.ntlworld.com.POSTED!not-for-mail From: "Richard Bullock" Newsgroups: alt.ascii-art References: Subject: Re: A question for those interested in physics... Lines: 43 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0000 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000 Message-ID: Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 11:34:15 -0000 NNTP-Posting-Host: 213.106.209.34 X-Complaints-To: abuse@ntlworld.com X-Trace: news2-win.server.ntlworld.com 1017315160 213.106.209.34 (Thu, 28 Mar 2002 11:32:40 GMT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 11:32:40 GMT Organization: ntl Cablemodem News Service Xref: archiver1.google.com alt.ascii-art:16339 "Edwin" wrote in message news:a7q9p0$n6or0$2@ID-56786.news.dfncis.de... > 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. > If there were no atmosphere, then it would have exactly the same velocity when it came down than when it left the gun. Ric