Base your answer in terms of the law of coservation of momentum.
2007-04-17 22:29:35 · 12 answers · asked by Joseph Abu Bakarr S 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
every action has an equal and opposite reaction
firing a bullet causes recoil which is the opposite reaction to the bullet firing but due to the mass of a bullet being very small, this force is easily absorbed by the slide in the gun and the person holding it.
2007-04-17 22:33:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
When the bullet is fired there is pressure going everywhere inside the casing. Around the sides the force is equal so the forces counteract each other. At the front the bullet is propelled out at high velocity where it hits it only hits a small areas so it does a lot of damage where it does hit compared to the size of the bullet.
At the back the force pushes the spring back, this takes most of the force and allows the empty case to leave the gun. What energy is left is called recoil but because it is much less than the original force exerted and because it is spread over a wider area the person is not greatly effected on most weapons.
2007-04-21 10:41:25 · answer #2 · answered by unreal229 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whilst I am not sure what you mean by 'falls' (Try shooting a .22 at a brick wall), there is an obvious and simple answer to your question. The force created when discharging a firearm is in the form of expanding gas. If the firer can maintain an equal force to the expansion for the time of the expansion, they will absorb that force, and the majority of the momentum will be transferred to the bullet, muzzel flash, and gas escape(not to mention the force used to work an auto/semi-auto weapon). This force is found from the friction of his/her body and the ground, and the inertia of the Earth. This is most readily observable by the need of a helicoter gunship to bank against minigun fire to maintain level flight, thus opposing that recoil.
The target can then either match the force of the bullet and stand(in our wall example), or will gain the momentum of the bullet, and move backwards. The problem with this theory is that will the human hand or shoulder is generally solid enough to prevent entry by the back of a weapon, the size of the bullet pushes it through the surface of many targets (much like a sharp knife, as opposed to the other side of that knife.)
Thus, the reason most targets fall, is that they no longer have control over their legs.
2007-04-17 22:44:03 · answer #3 · answered by the_burrij 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The momentum of the bullet fired from the gun is not that great. It gains most of its momentum from its velocity, around 600 ms-1, as its mass is next to nothing.
This forward momentum is easily balanced by the elasticity of the shooters arm. The backwards "recoil" energy of the gun is absorbed by the shooters shoulder and arm damping the backwards motion.
As for the object he fired at falls.... if this is a person, then the momentum of the bullet shouldn't really be enough to knock them off their feet, it would have the same effect as it does to the shooter, and would easily be absorbed by someone of average body mass... they fall because they have been hurt.
As for a can target, this falls because the momentum of the bullet cannot be dissipated by the rigid tin frame, and its a direct transfer of the energy, as the can doesn't weigh a lot, its tipped over.
2007-04-17 22:38:04 · answer #4 · answered by wil_hopcyn 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well the bullet kills the other guy - he falls down due to death not velocity. I think in the terms of the law of coservation (sp?) of momentum you may need a better example.
2007-04-17 23:17:00 · answer #5 · answered by Dr Watson (UK) 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They both experience the same force. The difference is that the person firing the gun is usually expecting it so adjust thier stance and tenses ready (if not, a shooter can be thrown backwards).
The person being shot will be taken by surprise and is not ready for the blow. Also, if it hits a major organ, their body will struggle to maintain a standing positiondue to the shock and pain.
2007-04-17 22:36:30 · answer #6 · answered by Marky 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The gun is controllable after firing but the bullet is very strong that it will fell anyone at the hitting distance when it is at its strong position.
2007-04-17 22:45:29 · answer #7 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, I would have to venture a guess and say that a bullet probably had something to do with the victim falling down.
2007-04-17 22:33:51 · answer #8 · answered by TE 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
his feet are spread correctly to minimize the backwards force of recoil..the object falls because of one or more of three reasons1.major structral damage..supporting bone breakage2.Major organ damage..brain shutting down due to damage to liver/spleen etc3.bleed out..heart loses blood due to major injury to a primary vessel....go away now...you bore me
2007-04-17 22:33:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because the object he fired at is dead.
2007-04-17 22:36:54 · answer #10 · answered by beanie 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋