Which will hit the ground first a bullet free falling or a bullet shot out of a gun?

Question

I was asked that if u drop a bullet of any caliber (just the lead of equal caliber) at the same level of the barrel when a bullet is fired and drop it when the bullet exsits the barrel will they both hit the ground at the same time? Giving that gravity as the same effect and that the fired bullet doesnt hit any object and is on flat ground with no elevation change?

Answer 1

If the bullet is fired horiontally, then yes, the time down is the same. This is because the velocity is horizontal, and the downward acceleration is the same for both bullets.

Answer 2

Newton's theory of gravity states that both masses, regardless of weight, fall at equal rates of speed, 32 FPS, however in observation the greater the density, not weight, of the mass, the barely noticeable but slower it falls, this is where the modern spooky theory of "dark matter" comes from. However, the bullet fired from the gun will continue to travel if uninterupted, and the trajectory would be determined by charge of the powder, so the bullet dropped from same height would hit the ground first unless the said powder load was weak. I admit to the naked eye with average load, it would be close, say the air pellett in hand drops 32 fps, and the velocity of the fired pellet is 550 FPS might be the same, then you bring out a .72 calibre elephant gun with at least 150 grain load, the dropped bullet will freefall to earth before said fired bullet at level trajectory drops to earth.

Answer 3

This is a basic Physics question. In theory, assuming the bullet is fired parrallel to the ground, they both fall down at the exact same rate, even though one is travelling much faster sideways. They hit at the same time (ignoring Earth's curvature). In practice, there are probably slight variations that would make it not quite so, but fundamentally, they both go down at the same rate.

Answer 4

the bullet that was fired from the gun will definently hit first.

Yes both have the laws of gravity to live by, but the bullet shot from the gun is propeled with an existing force which will make it fall faster than 9.8 m/s2.

This is of course if the gun is pointed down.


If the gun is point perfectly horizontal then they will both reach the ground at the same time.

Answer 5

They will hit the ground at the same time as long as the barrel is pointed level with the horizon.

Answer 6

I dont think gravity applies to propulsion . Your talking two totally different fields. The shot bullet would HIT the ground first , as opposed to the bullet that would LAND second

Answer 7

If gun is fired horizontally they will hit at same time. If gun is fired downward it will hit ground first.

Answer 8

technicaly they would hit at the same time... thats what the phisics books say...

(to be honest, the one shot from the gun would hit just before the other one becuse the speed of the bullet causes it to try to make a small orbit around the earth)

the first awnser is the one your looking for to awnser your question

Answer 9

They both land at the same time.

Answer 10

they will hit at the same time. gravity has the same speed no matter how fast something horizontally is traveling