Why is dirt more effective than wood at stoping bullets?

Question

Because I know some bullets can penetrate over 3 feet of wood, but less than a foot of dirt? Why is this so if the dirt is a bunch of loose particles, whereas the wood is a single material? thanks!

Answer 1

It's mostly a matter of density.

But trust me... if someone was shooting at you from a modern military weapon, you wouldn't take cover behind any of those.

An armor piercing shell fired from a riffle at short distance goes through an engine block like nothing. I always cringe when I see people hiding behind cars in movies shooting at each other for half an hour with semi-machine guns.

If you have been in the military, you will know that a single salvo from a single weapon would be enough to kill everyone hiding behind the car and potentially even hurt or kill the people inside the house behind the house behind the car (and no, that was not one house too many).

If the people shooting at you have a 20mm... only God or a bunker can help you. And he is usually not at home when you need him. And you are usually not in a bunker.

Answer 2

Sounds like a job for mythbusters.

Gotta tell ya, if I had a choice between ducking behind 3 feet of wood or 1 foot of dirt, I'd take the wood.

Answer 3

It is due to the different micro-structuring of the materials. Dirt is more densely packed than wood causing the impact of a bullet to be more dispersed.

Answer 4

I think it is because there are more particles to absorb the energy from the speeding bullet. Wood's particles are so compact that they cannot absorb the shock of the bullet.

Answer 5

dirt lets the power exerted by the bullet "expand" throughout all of it's particles. wood is not as flexible so the power won't be distributed as evenly .

Answer 6

The only reason something could stop a bullet faster than something else is because it's denser, and harder to penetrate.

Answer 7

density