sman@prandtl.nas.nasa.gov (Sekong Man) (01/12/90)
From: sman@prandtl.nas.nasa.gov (Sekong Man) In <13029@cbnews.ATT.COM> Rob Horn wrote about falling bullet >The terminal velocity will depend on two major factors: the bullet >size and weight, and whether it is tumbling. If you avoid tumble, then >terminal velocity should be above 50 m/s and below 400 m/s. Depending >upon the bullet and where it hits these speeds are high enough to cause >injury, but few injuries will be serious. If the bullet has tumbled, the >speeds drop a lot. He is mostly right except that 400 m/s is far too high as a upper bound. Afterall pistols fire bullets at sonic speed which is around 330 m/s and such speed of course can cause fatal injury. The terminal velocity of any normal bullet is not likely to be much above the 50 m/s quoted and the conculsion about injury is thus right.