How Fast Would A Bullet Travel In Space?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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If you were to fire a gun in space, what would happen to the bullet?

At 9000km altitude, escape velocity is about 7.1km/s

. A rifle’s muzzle velocity is around 1km/s, so a bullet fired from a stationary position would either be caught in an orbit or eventually fall to Earth, depending on the direction of fire.

Would bullets go faster in space?


Bullets shot in space wouldn’t really travel any faster than they would on Earth

, though they could travel farther. On Earth, gravity eventually pulls the bullet down, even if it doesn’t hit anything — or anyone.

How fast would a bullet travel on the moon?

The moon’s escape velocity is about 2.38 km/s, but a bullet typically travels at only about

1 km/s

.

Can a bullet travel through space?

Assuming you are floating freely in space the gun will work just as it does on Earth. However,

the bullet will continue moving for many thousands of years

, eventually coming to a stop due to the friction from the diffuse material found in ’empty’ space (or when it encounters another object).

Can a bullet escape Earth’s gravity?


Even a bullet, fired straight up at the maximum speed a gunpowder blast can accelerate it to, will never leave the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere

. A combination of gravity and air resistance will slow it down until it reaches a maximum height, whereupon it will fall back down to Earth’s surface.

What does space smell like?

Astronaut Thomas Jones said it “carries

a distinct odor of ozone, a faint acrid smell…a little like gunpowder, sulfurous

.” Tony Antonelli, another space-walker, said space “definitely has a smell that’s different than anything else.” A gentleman named Don Pettit was a bit more verbose on the topic: “Each time, when I …

Do astronauts carry guns?


Cosmonauts regularly carry handguns on their Soyuz spacecraft

— and actually, that’s not unreasonable.

Would an M16 work in space?

In real life, however,

a weapon like the M16 would be extremely difficult to operate in space

. Using weapons in the extremes of space, including wild temperature swings and low gravity, would present challenges for both those who design and carry the weapons.

Would a gun work on Mars?

“The atmospheric pressure is about 1%, so you’d hear a bang but it wouldn’t be as loud. Your range would be a lot further because the bullet would drop much more slowly in the Mars gravity.” Nonetheless, it would still do damage. “

All sort of projectile weapons would work

,” explains Clarke.

Could you fire a bullet on the Moon?


Yes, you can fire a gun on the Moon, despite the absence of oxygen

. A gun “fires” because of a sudden impulse delivered to the gunpowder by the trigger. The gun powder then explodes, imparting a lot of energy to the bullet which shoots out of the gun’s barrel.

Can a bullet be fired on the Moon?

Gun: Yes. The oxidizer is within the gun powder, so a gun will fire in the vacuum of the Moon.

The bullet will travel significantly farther, because it will fall slower and there will be no air resistance.

Would a bullet go farther on the Moon?

So, neglecting air resistance,

the bullet will go about 6 times farther on the Moon than on Earth

.

Will a pistol fire in space?

Fires can’t burn in the oxygen-free vacuum of space, but

guns can shoot

. Modern ammunition contains its own oxidizer, a chemical that will trigger the explosion of gunpowder, and thus the firing of a bullet, wherever you are in the universe. No atmospheric oxygen required.

Will ammo go off in a fire?

Ammunition that is stored in the boxes sold by the manufacturer is not dangerous in a fire.

If ignited by intense heat, the brass or plastic cartridge will burst

. The particles will not travel very far. The protective clothing that firefighters wear will protect them.

Can you light a match in space?

What is the fastest bullet?

The

. 220 Swift

remains the fastest commercial cartridge in the world, with a published velocity of 1,422 m/s (4,665 ft/s) using a 1.9 grams (29 gr) bullet and 2.7 grams (42 gr) of 3031 powder.

How long would it take a bullet to circle the earth?

The circumferemce of the earth is 24,901 miles. A 230 grain . 45acp bullet going 850 feet per second (~579.5 miles per hour) would take

just under 43 hours

, while a 55 grain 5.56×45 bullet going 3165fps (~2158mph) would take a little over 11 1/2 hours.

How fast would the moon need to travel in order to escape?

From its equator, the Moon has a radius of 1 738 km. It also has an estimated mass of 7.342 × 10

22

kg. This means that the Moon’s escape velocity is

2.38 km/s

. That is much less than the 11.2 km/s it takes to get off the Earth.

Can you fart in space?

Surprisingly, that isn’t the biggest problem associated with farting in space. Though

you’re definitely more likely to worsen a small fire when you fart, it won’t always injure or kill you

. The worst part about farting in space is the lack of airflow. Let’s take a step back and remember how farting on Earth works.

Will a body decompose in space?


If you do die in space, your body will not decompose in the normal way, since there is no oxygen

. If you were near a source of heat, your body would mummify; if you were not, it would freeze. If your body was sealed in a space suit, it would decompose, but only for as long as the oxygen lasted.

How cold is space?

Hot things move quickly, cold things very slowly. If atoms come to a complete stop, they are at absolute zero. Space is just above that,

at an average temperature of 2.7 Kelvin (about minus 455 degrees Fahrenheit)

.

Do cell phones work in space?

Inside the International Space Station or a shuttle where it’s not subject to the harshness of space it wouldn’t have a problem and indeed

astronauts are known to take phones with them

. A smartphone can even fare pretty well as part of a satellite if STRaND-1 and PhoneSat are anything to go by.

Does US have nukes in space?

Today, after more than three decades,

space remains free of weapons of mass destruction

thanks to the Outer Space Treaty.

What foods do astronauts avoid in space?


Bread and chips

; bread lacks the structure and shelf life to work as space food. Moreover, bread leaves crumbs that can float away and clog air vents. Alcohol because it might affect the Astronauts’ brain and their behaviour leaving them without mental clarity to make smart decisions.

Can you shoot down the barrel of a tank?

Will guns fire underwater?

If you’re wondering how it’s even possible to shoot a gun underwater, gunpowder contains oxygen — a key element in the firing process —

the gun still goes off exactly as it would on land

.

Is there sound in space?


No, you cannot hear any sounds in near-empty regions of space

. Sound travels through the vibration of atoms and molecules in a medium (such as air or water). In space, where there is no air, sound has no way to travel.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.