2006-08-17 20:04:38 · 17 answers · asked by OZZY 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
1) Yes, A rifle bullet will fly much further on the Moon than on Earth.
There is no atmosphere (Overall, the atmosphere is a million times less dense than the Earth's.) so little or no aerodynamic drag.
It will NOT as someone said fly on forever. The moon has 1/6 the gravity of earth, however the rifle bullet will not reach Lunar escape velocity of 7,776 ft/sec.
The bullet will follow a ballistic trajectory (parabola), finally impacting the moons surface and stop.
2) The rifle will fire on the Moon, or in a Vacuum, the Propellant typically nitrocellulose and the primer have its own oxygen component and do not need outside air.
3) As a point of interest: The recoil of the rifle would be the same energy as the recoil on earth, however the persons weight would be 1/6th of that on earth. So, the person firing the rifle could be pushed back and off his feet or lifted off the moons surface, something like you see in a cartoon. You might want to brace yourself well.
Yours: Grumpy
2006-08-17 20:24:06 · answer #1 · answered by Grumpy 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As explained many times over, the gunpowder would fire just fine on the moon.
Assume the gravity on the moon is 2 m/s*s versus the earth gravity 10 m/s*s. If you fire your gun horiozontally 2 m above a flat plain having no air resistance it will take sqrt(2) = approx 1,4 seconds for the bullet to hit the plain. Assuming a muzzle velocity of 300 m/s it will travel approx 420m. On earth this would be about 190m due to higher gravity but air friction will reduce its speed (not the time it stays air born since the vertical speed is so low as to cause practically no air friction) and it will probably hit the plain at 170-180 m. So about a factor 2,5 between earth and moon.
2006-08-17 22:02:34 · answer #2 · answered by Sjors d 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will travel considerably further, but it won't go on forever as some people have suggested. There is no atmosphere on the moon and so no air resistance but the moon still has gravity which is about one fifth of that on the earth. So gravity will eventually pull it down to the ground.
2006-08-17 20:51:40 · answer #3 · answered by brainyandy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes since there is less gravity on the moon, the bullet is acted on less by the grvitational force and also a thinner atmosphere.This is the reason that nasa has considered a moon base for innerstellar travel, because it would require less energy to break loose from the moons gravity
2006-08-17 20:18:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
the pressure from inside the gun doesnt need air to push the bullet out of the barrel. and since the gravity on the moon is far less than our own, the chances of it travelling further is controversial, since inertia is as yet unknown. if we understood the gravity of the moon and its orbit alot better, mathematiclly, then it would be possible to find out if the bullet can travel further than on it can on earth, but at this stage, i think it probably would be like shooting a bullet into a bunch of pillows.. at least, i would think so. lack of air and gravity would make for a very soft movement of most things. but it really depends on the prepulsion of the bullet too. if its strong enought etc... interesting question though. probably something best asked to people who made the mini series "Fire Fly"
2006-08-17 20:13:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes it should...The reason a bullet has a downward trajectory is gravity and some other factors like air density ect. On the moon there is no atmosphere, thus 0 density, and gravity is less.
2006-08-17 20:13:43 · answer #6 · answered by Stopwatch 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
at first i said if there was oxygen for the gunpowder to explode but the other guys are right some guns can fire under water the bullet would most likely go off into space and wouldn't slow down or stop til it hit something or was pulled into a gravitational pull from a planet it could travel for years before that happened if it happened at all
2006-08-17 20:15:01 · answer #7 · answered by know it all 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, because there is no air resistance and less gravitational pull, the bullet will still travel in a parabolic arc, but a much larger one. That's if you can get it to fire at all without oxygen.
2006-08-17 20:09:45 · answer #8 · answered by Spekter 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Whooo ! More muddle here. Just to clarify, a bullet does NOT need oxygen to fire (burn). All the oxygen needed is in the gunpowder.
What science are you lot taught at school !
2006-08-17 21:37:45 · answer #9 · answered by andyoptic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It will go on for ever as the only thing slowing it down on earth is atmosphere. (unless it hits the moon then it is over.
A gun will fire on the moon. Why you think a 'rocket' fires on the moon? It has it's own 'oxygen supply' built in the 'gun powder'.
2006-08-17 20:10:54 · answer #10 · answered by Puppy Zwolle 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋