If you fired a rifle from space (say, a .308), what would happen to the bullet? Would it just keep going forever and forever until it hit something? Would it travel faster if fired in the opposite direction of the sun or toward the sun?
What about if a rifle were fired straight up from the surface of the moon? Since there is no atmosphere and the gravity is so much weaker, would it go into space?
2007-05-27 08:39:52 · 5 answers · asked by norbert 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
A rifle bullet fired in space would continue to orbit whatever it 's already orbiting almost indefinately, unless it by chance happens to hit something. Usually in astronomical terms a bullet is somewhat weak and is only capable of altering it's trajectory, rather than escaping completely and never coming back.
A bullet fired anywhere close to an atmosphere will eventually get dragged down and then burn up by the atmosphere. This happens to satellites. It might take days to many thousands of years, depending on how low the bullet reaches during it's path.
The direction fired matters.
If you're in a low orbit like Space Shuttle for example, and fire opposite the direction you're going, the bullet will slow down enough to reenter very quickly.
If you fired the same direction you're going, you would add about 3000 fps to your orbit(26,000 fps), and it would move to an elliptical orbit and raise the high point of the orbit.
As for the moon, a .308 bullet still isn't fast enough to leave the moon forever and never come back. It's 2 and a half times too slow. It'd still fly hundreds of miles away if you aim it at a low angle, and more than 140 miles high if you shoot it straight up, taking 1/3 of an hour to come back down
The gun will work. Gunpowder already has the oxygen inside it.
2007-05-27 08:49:48 · answer #1 · answered by anonymous 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you fired it from a platform in solar orbit, it would orbit the sun.
2007-05-27 08:52:37 · answer #2 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ill put forth the theory that since there is no oxygen in space the gunpowder wont ignite? but im not sure about this one.
2007-05-27 08:50:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Imagine yourself NASA.....you kind just talked of adding more debris in already messed galaxy.
2007-05-27 08:47:35 · answer #4 · answered by Kinyua J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you'd probably hit marvin if you point it towards mars
2007-05-27 08:47:17 · answer #5 · answered by mde227 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋