Where Do Bullets Go When Fired Into The Air?

แชร์
ฝัง
  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ต.ค. 2013
  • When people fire guns into the air in a celebratory manner, those bullets have to go somewhere. Find out how high fired bullets can go -- and why they can be dangerous -- in this episode of BrainStuff.
    Whether the topic is popcorn or particle physics, you can count on the HowStuffWorks team to explore - and explain - the everyday science in the world around us on BrainStuff.
    Watch More BrainStuff on TestTube testtube.com/brainstuff
    Subscribe Now! th-cam.com/users/subscription_c...
    Watch More / brainstuffshow
    Twitter / brainstuffhsw
    Facebook / brainstuff
    Google+ gplus.to/BrainStuff
  • วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี

ความคิดเห็น • 1.4K

  • @SteinGauslaaStrindhaug
    @SteinGauslaaStrindhaug 8 ปีที่แล้ว +285

    When I was a kid I had a fiberglass bow and steel arrows; and one day we tried shooting arrows straight up. It was just fun until I lost track of where it was - and it suddenly landed next to me; the fletching literally brushing past my fingers before embedding itself a good 15 cm into the ground. ... That's when I realized that shooting anything straight up is dangerous.

    • @Chuck91
      @Chuck91 8 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      What were your parents thinking? Lol

    • @jamesfowley4114
      @jamesfowley4114 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Stein Gauslaa Strindhaug We did that too.

    • @mw3fan888
      @mw3fan888 8 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Thats because arrows are made to be aerodynamic thats why it dug so deep intonthe ground because it was flying true, but if you did that with a firearms the bullet wouldnt come back dow nearly as lethal, it'd be like dropping a penny from the empire state building

    • @trav-c137
      @trav-c137 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +The Desert Doge see that's what I thought but this lady is saying it will land a lethal blow. fuck now I gotta try it

    • @arsalanahmed3291
      @arsalanahmed3291 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Randy Scrambob
      these stray bullets can be dangerous and I have heard of a person who was injured due to this and even one or two times bullets landed beside me and luckily 3 to 4 feet away....

  • @jays_jae
    @jays_jae 8 ปีที่แล้ว +624

    No. The bullet will go into space orbit escape and hit Mars, ricochet back to earth and then hit someone.

    • @vpslens
      @vpslens 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      lol

    • @Tarzan118
      @Tarzan118 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Damn, how didn't they teach me that in school?

    • @toxicrooster7469
      @toxicrooster7469 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Jason Prikken is

    • @darkphoenix7899
      @darkphoenix7899 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      ToxicRooster moron

    • @brunoandersen565
      @brunoandersen565 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Sorry about this, but it won't, due to the insufficient speed... but you probably knew that. :-D

  • @Shade04rek
    @Shade04rek 8 ปีที่แล้ว +126

    Trickshots do happen on accident.

    • @Tarzan118
      @Tarzan118 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      get the camera

    • @Jp-ui3fw
      @Jp-ui3fw 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ooooooo imagine the deadliest sniper alive just shooter up with a lil tilt and hits there target miles away

    • @kavinb3672
      @kavinb3672 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Jp-ui3fw now thats an idea for a cool movie shot

  • @urpwnned
    @urpwnned 9 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Did you have a stroke at 1:30 ? LOL

  • @MurrayMelander
    @MurrayMelander 8 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    The military did some tests many years ago firing 30 caliber bullets straight up. Some bullets fell back pretty close, other were blown sideways coming down due to wind. None impacted with enough force to do serious injury. I'm not sure but maybe MythBusters did this experiment too.

    • @etodemerzel2627
      @etodemerzel2627 8 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      +Murray Melander They did. And myth was busted.

    • @inventorknowledge703
      @inventorknowledge703 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      depends on the bullet but are you guys seriously trying to take that risk?
      the fact that there are news of people dying of stray bullets, isn't that enough to stop doing that?

    • @alanshiju4382
      @alanshiju4382 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Many people had died because of this

  • @Mike-xg3mi
    @Mike-xg3mi 7 ปีที่แล้ว +368

    I learned NOTHING

    • @donovanholm
      @donovanholm 7 ปีที่แล้ว +43

      She just rambled on without answering the question.

    • @Ownage4lif31
      @Ownage4lif31 7 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      The bullet goes up and then comes back down due to gravity. Does that answer your question?

    • @rubensantana3137
      @rubensantana3137 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Mike *Learnt

    • @mikhailkonstantin9927
      @mikhailkonstantin9927 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hmmm .. because u r a noob .. thats all kid

    • @lokivanni2500
      @lokivanni2500 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@donovanholm It comes back down… that’s the answer. That’s literally all she’s saying

  • @Gtchy1230
    @Gtchy1230 10 ปีที่แล้ว +384

    So it took almost 2 minutes to tell us that the bullet comes back down... and that we shouldn't fire guns in cities cause we have a greater chance of hitting somebody.... I don't even...

    • @Tubleros
      @Tubleros 10 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      It took 20 seconds, dont blame others for your lack of intelligence

    • @JetsovrTaylor
      @JetsovrTaylor 10 ปีที่แล้ว +31

      Gurksallad10 the point is you learn nothing from this

    • @A-Duck
      @A-Duck 10 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Gurksallad10 Congratulations, you just blamed someone else for your own lack of intelligence, thus filling the internets yearly irony quota.
      The point he's making is the video goes for nearly 2 minutes, and in that time filled with constant talking all that is managed to be conveyed is A. Don't shoot guns in the city like a dumbass, and B. Icecream is good.
      What a twist.

    • @ivanh.9465
      @ivanh.9465 10 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      wouldn't the bullet land somewhere else because of the wind?

    • @ck675
      @ck675 10 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      ivan hu I mean it's not constantly windy everywhere. Besides, she didn't say that it would come STRAIGHT back down to the point that it was shot from, just that it WOULD come back down. Figuring out where exactly the bullet would land would require more advanced mathematical techniques.

  • @chopinbloc
    @chopinbloc 9 ปีที่แล้ว +195

    When you fail this fantastically at basic physics stuff, you lose credibility.
    The real answer is that it depends on a couple of factors, the most important being the angle at which the bullet was fired. If it were fired straight up at, or close to 90°, it would stop, and then fall back at only terminal velocity, which is not great enough to cause any significant harm. The problem is that people who shoot guns into the air don't always do it straight up. When it is fired at an angle, a bullet can maintains significant forward velocity pretty far down range.

    • @santinoyago
      @santinoyago 9 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      The Chopping Block You are completely correct.

    • @chopinbloc
      @chopinbloc 9 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Santino Yago Thanks. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Check out my channel for real ammo physics. (Okay, just gel tests)

    • @GN-ri8ui
      @GN-ri8ui 9 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      The Chopping Block Not only were her explanations vague and blanket statements. They were ill informed and sometimes just flat out wrong. Not to mention her watching her mouth and listening to her voice was also like audio/visual sand paper.

    • @chopinbloc
      @chopinbloc 9 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Greg N LOL. Right? If you're not willing to explain things correctly, or if you think you have to "dumb it down" so much that you start saying things that are factually wrong, then just don't do it.

    • @blurrav4596
      @blurrav4596 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Actually that's not true, there's been cases of deaths from bullets falling back down to the earth and hitting someone in the head after being shot.

  • @ralphwiggum2850
    @ralphwiggum2850 9 ปีที่แล้ว +91

    You should do a video on how tranquilizer dart works.

    • @BrainStuffShow
      @BrainStuffShow  9 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      I'll add that to our topics list. Some of us might even volunteer to be test subjects for that.

    • @erikpayne8202
      @erikpayne8202 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks yay

    • @WhateverNick
      @WhateverNick 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ralph Wiggum #TRANQED.

    • @pw1277
      @pw1277 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ralph Wiggum dicks out 4 harambe

    • @taylorbarnes8373
      @taylorbarnes8373 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      +BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks No, he means test it on yourself....for a long time

  • @nowdid
    @nowdid 8 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    From 1:35 until the end the video turns into hipster talk.

  • @razgmk
    @razgmk 8 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Did I just watch a video telling me that bullets come down after being shot up in the air? And if there are people around when I shoot a gun I have chances of shooting someone? Really? I mean COME ON! This is insulting my intelligence.

    • @DrReginaldFinleySr
      @DrReginaldFinleySr 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      +razgmk razgmk, there are plenty of dumb people on this planet. I hear them every 4th of July.

    • @nishitraj.
      @nishitraj. 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      exactly! wasted my data on this shit

    • @Onmysheet
      @Onmysheet 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      If you shoot in the air (On a slight angle) the bullet can easily ricochet of something metal, then onto a person. So it's pretty possible.

    • @asho345
      @asho345 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      This video is for really advanced 2 year olds.

  • @AstroMineFun
    @AstroMineFun 7 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Well, I think it was obvious that it would come back down, but I was expecting some examples, like how long would it take from a certain gun, certain angle etc.. for the bullet to come down, how much could it travel from shooting position and that sort of stuff.

    • @stevencloninger7988
      @stevencloninger7988 ปีที่แล้ว

      Check out the myth busters version of this they go into as much detail as you can want

  • @DionLewiis
    @DionLewiis 7 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    They made this video with the assumption that the majority of people didn't know the bullet would come back down.

    • @dhruvavikas1632
      @dhruvavikas1632 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Guilty

    • @deepbrar9750
      @deepbrar9750 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The fact that people searched for this video proves otherwise.

    • @inventorknowledge703
      @inventorknowledge703 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      not majority but enough people actually believe it wouldn't kill you when it goes down.
      when there are real news of people dying from stray bullets.
      that's the point.

    • @sirhoopsalot8921
      @sirhoopsalot8921 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@inventorknowledge703 stray bullets also implies bullets which weren't shot in the air though.

  • @bishopclarke6616
    @bishopclarke6616 9 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    To brain stuff, is there such a thing called a brain fart ? During a brain fart you temporary lose memory and cannot recall simple things such as your phone number, name, address, ect.

    • @BrainStuffShow
      @BrainStuffShow  9 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I don't think "brain fart" is a clinical term, but I'm sure there's research out there about memory retrieval. We'll look into it!

    • @bishopclarke6616
      @bishopclarke6616 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks lol....thank you !

    • @kaylab3710
      @kaylab3710 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Bishop Clarke lol was that a serious question XD

    • @WhatStef
      @WhatStef 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Bishop Clarke That's called the TOT phenomenon and there isn't yet a definite explanation: mashable.com/2015/01/27/brain-fart-science/#u7Egl4vW1iq7

    • @pedrov1329
      @pedrov1329 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      this happened to me about 6 months ago man I couldn't remember my 4-digit phone password. it was ridiculous. I thought I had Alzheimer's

  • @lordhater2
    @lordhater2 7 ปีที่แล้ว +80

    I'm sorry, but this video literally told me the obvious. Like I could of figured all this out with common sense.

    • @redryg9638
      @redryg9638 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Lord Hater theres a majority of people that doesn't know whether the bullet would come down or not, stop being smartass

    • @Joaking91
      @Joaking91 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Red Ryg im willing to bet most people assume it falls rather than it achieves escape velocity

    • @lordhater2
      @lordhater2 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Red Ryg Where do you live then, cause I'm pretty sure it ain't on this planet

    • @stroke_of_luck
      @stroke_of_luck 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Common sense is very uncommon, as evidenced by the huge number of people who do it. Some people need to be told the obvious.

    • @danjbundrick
      @danjbundrick 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'd be willing to bet that nobody would be able to say with certainty that a bullet wouldn't leave the planet if fired straight up. It might be their first guess, but pressed to say why they think it, they wouldn't have the tools available to do so. In fact, this video simply said it as a matter of fact. It goes up to a mile high! Well what's the distance to space? Hmmmm??? What's escape velocity? What's the speed of a bullet? Is one mile an average of all calibers and weapon types or maximum? This isn't common sense, it's deduction based on facts that you have to be told.

  • @earhgasher3309
    @earhgasher3309 7 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    Video should've ended at 0:47

    • @TheWolf047
      @TheWolf047 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      jesus christ thats too funny.

  • @shamsan007
    @shamsan007 7 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    well, in my country many people killed or injured by unknown bullets came from sky
    personally, 2 bullets hit my car in deferent days

    • @Stigstigster
      @Stigstigster 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I believe you. Some people shoot almost straight up and that is not too dangerous. However many people fire their celebration shots at a lower angle and those are still killers.

    • @mjt11860
      @mjt11860 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      it is still dangerous & can cause great harm. only morons fire their guns in the air.

    • @mjt11860
      @mjt11860 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      why don't u push for legislation to stop idiots from doing that? of course our country has its share of idiots doing the same thing.

    • @AnotherAltAccountYouDonkey
      @AnotherAltAccountYouDonkey 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@mjt11860 because they're idiots and stopping telling "no bad idiots" won't stop it completely

  • @ryanenglish565
    @ryanenglish565 9 ปีที่แล้ว +57

    we can use blanks and just fire away

    • @soupcomfreak
      @soupcomfreak 9 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Ryan English That's normally what happens at celebrations isn't it?

    • @brunoandersen565
      @brunoandersen565 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      And Afghan and Iraqi people :_D

    • @llawliet4430
      @llawliet4430 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      well not really unless you want your hammer to get damaged or wear

    • @wet_crocs2412
      @wet_crocs2412 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@llawliet4430 lol I see what you mean but they're not talking about dry firing without bullets a blank is a bullet casing that has a cap on one end instead of an actual bullet so there's still powder and primer everything just no bullet hope this helps😁

    • @llawliet4430
      @llawliet4430 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@wet_crocs2412 thanks for the info 👍

  • @1125Cobra
    @1125Cobra 10 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    What happens when put a dryice into oil / boiling oil?

    • @BrainStuffShow
      @BrainStuffShow  10 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Interesting idea... we'll add it of our list of things to look into!

    • @1125Cobra
      @1125Cobra 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      cool

    • @picklebf0114
      @picklebf0114 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Aakash Gupta grant thompson the king of random does that

  • @didickcheeseburger
    @didickcheeseburger 10 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    did anyone actually click on this video while not already knowing the answer? where the hell else is the bullet gonna go?

    • @ansh7335
      @ansh7335 10 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      If fired by chuck norris it might go into space, travel to mars and kill a martian. Who knows?

    • @randyrehberg506
      @randyrehberg506 10 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Ankush Tiwari Are you fucking stupid? A tiny Chuck Norris would fly from the chamber of the gun. If shot at the Sun, it would create a big bang. If fired at another planet, it would reach the planet's core and the planet would collapse.
      Too many morons on the internet, man.

  • @swisstraeng
    @swisstraeng 8 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    My answer to the title is : they fall back slowly...

    • @Juuul89
      @Juuul89 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Slower, but still fast enough to kill ^^

    • @rif42
      @rif42 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      On 2013-07-04 in Midlothian Virginia US, a 7 year old boy was killed by bullet falling from the sky.

    • @kylemcguire1728
      @kylemcguire1728 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      SuperSmartt like a feather???😛

  • @chrisr3120
    @chrisr3120 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    0:54 bullets are designed to be fairly aerodynamic, in the direction they were fired.
    Bullets spin, some over 200,000 rpms, and spinning objects resist rotation. The bullet doesn't reach its apex, rotate, and then come back down still pointing the direction of travel. The rotation stabilizes it in the direction the gun was facing when it was fired. It stays pointing that direction the whole arc. So when it begins coming back down, it's actually meeting more air resistance.
    Also, terminal velocity is kind of a thing, and the terminal velocity of a bullet is not going to kill anyone. That said, obviously a billed fired at any angle lower than 90 degrees straight up will still have some lateral velocity too, from the angle it was fired at, but... well... let's put it this way... the lateral movement of a bullet would be its velocity in the direction parallel to the ground, and that is going to be a percentage of its maximum velocity based on the percentage the angle was pointed up from 0 degrees on the vertical plane. So in other words 0 degrees is 100% lateral velocity, 90 degrees is 0%, and 45 degrees is 50%. But we also have to subtract drag from air resistance which increases with the distance traveled.
    Now, I have already done pretty much all the math. Now, anyone shooting up in the air it is pretty safe to assume they are likely doing so at an angle greater than 60 degrees. Now, automatically, that means about 2/3 of their lateral momentum is gone. As for factoring in distance traveled, as it was stated, rounds shot into the air can often travel up to 2 miles, but that's not actually the total distance they traveled because they took an arched trajectory, meaning they actually traveled a bit further because of the indirect path.
    Now, the typical 9mm round is designed for shooting up to about 50 meters, a really good shot might stretch it out up to 100 meters, but this is largely a limitation of sighting on pistols. The actual lethal range if you got struck by a 9mm round is about 1/2 mile. But such a shot would be an absolute fluke, and that is still if the bullet is fired at about the lowest angle that can achieve that range given the terrain, which is much lower than 60 degrees.
    So, honestly, I don't really see a reasonable situation where these bullets will kill someone, not unless you got some idiot firing at remarkably low angles that barely justify calling it shooting into the air.
    Now, a bullet is very dense, but really it doesn't have that much mass, they operate almost entirely off their velocity for their damage potential. So its terminal velocity is unimpressive when it comes to actually being able to hurt someone. It's not going to be lethal, but it's also not going to just not hurt either. You are still looking at some decent blunt force on impact, like if someone threw a rock at you.
    So, probably not the best of ideas, but no, you aren't going to kill anyone.
    Now, there are safe ways to do this, entirely safe, mind you. You can use blanks, just you know, bear in mind don't act stupid with the blacks, just cause their is no projectile doesn't mean hot high pressure gas can't hurt someone at close range, but no projectile means nothing to come back down. There are also rounds that fire shot comprised of small pellets I stead of a solid bullet, these should be completely harmless because each individual pellet has very little mass at all and won't carry much energy. A pistol like the Taurus Judge which fires 410 shotgun shells ought to be just fine especially with bird shot as should any shotgun firing bird shot because bird shot is literally designed to be fired safely into the air.

    • @Mr.Robert1
      @Mr.Robert1 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Chris I compliment you you've actually posted more than I've actually done in my life but let me tell you something this woman is 100% wrong I can't believe that she's misinforming people that are watching this channel there's been scientific proof from Einstein's time and before it's called terminal velocity they've even done it on that dumb show called Mythbusters for the average guy that doesn't understand science that well they've actually fired a bullet straight up in the air it doesn't have enough weight or speed to hurt anyone she is 100% wrong and misinforming everybody that watches this channel I'm in shock actually

  • @Jonisgay24
    @Jonisgay24 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Just wanted to comment and say I love the show. It's so addicting. Please don't ever stop making episodes I will watch them forever.

  • @Kasumi8779
    @Kasumi8779 10 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    In Russia we sometimes take a Nagant pistol to a mountain and shoot it in the Air in celebration. There is another country that is known for doing this on Christmas but I can't remember it

  • @andyakarudolfhessiansack7936
    @andyakarudolfhessiansack7936 9 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    Wow...I would never of guessed that a bullet shot in the air will sometime have to come back down...and oh oh wait....if there's more people around there's a bigger chance it'll hit someone, oh shit people are so smart coming up with this stuff!!! (

    • @jamotide
      @jamotide 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      ***** What why, the bullets could leave the atmosphere and travel through space or (for religious people) hit gods

    • @zuurilla
      @zuurilla 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +jamotide That last part was uncalled for and the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. No religious person has ever said that.

    • @jamotide
      @jamotide 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Keep It Chill What, why not, for most religions the gods are usually in the sky.

    • @zuurilla
      @zuurilla 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yea but do u really think a religious person is gonna think it'll hit their god. 😐 No one has said that or will ever say that

    • @jamotide
      @jamotide 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Keep It Chill
      Why would they say that, in fact I said it.

  • @OutdoorDon
    @OutdoorDon 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Actually Myth Busters did an episode on this subject and as long as a bullet is fired straight up it does not fall fast enough to be lethal but if it is fired at an angle it certainly can be.

  • @chickenray182
    @chickenray182 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    It comes down through my living room ceiling on New Year's Eve. Good thing I was not home.

  • @aidenroggero446
    @aidenroggero446 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This is actually a fairly good question - I'll do my best to cover the bases when answering:
    First, we need to define a bullet. Do you mean a conventional piece of metal propelled by rapidly expanding gasses? Or do you mean "is it possible to chuck something into space, and will it be able to hit the moon?"
    Let's consider some of the things this "bullet" would have to endure: When you fire it, it would need to be capable of accelerating to a VERY high speed - also known as the escape velocity (of earth). This is the minimum speed needed to escape the gravitational pull of earth. This is around 11km/s! Nearly 40.000km/h! This is roughly 7 times faster than the fastest bullets commonly fired.
    You also need to make sure the material this "bullet" is made from can withstand accelerating to such a speed within the lenght of the barrel of the gun - my guess here is that if you attempt to do this within, say, 50cm, any known materials would simply disintegrate, turn into some sort of plasma or something really cool and destructive.
    Also, to ensure such high acceleration, you'd need to be able to contain the VERY(!) rapidly expanding gasses in a chamber that can withstand these pressures. This would also be hard - but not unfeasible.
    These problems could be overcome by either attaching the propellant to the bullet itself, thus creating a rocket (but then it's not really a bullet anymore, is it?), or by lauching it without gasses, but with magnetism, rails guns/coil guns and so on. Let's assume this is the method we decide on.
    We build a bloody long and powerful electromagnetic gun, point it at to moon, load it up with a bullet made of magnetic material and fire. What happens?
    As the bullet moves through the atmosphere of the earth, it creates friction with the air surrounding it - and since it's moving VERY fast, it creates a LOT of friction. This would burn the bullet to ash unless it was either VERY big (then it would just burn the bullet into a somewhat smaller bullet, but this would require massive amounts of energy to launch...) or you would need to coat the magnetic core of the bullet with something that can withstand immense heat and is able to insulate. Ceramics or some application of aerogel would be good ideas.
    Allright then: We have a rail/coil/whatever-gun pointed a the moon and a insulated magnetic bullet. We fire. The bullet escapes the earth and flies towards the moon. But misses, even though we pointed the gun exactly at the moon. Why did we miss?
    Because, even at these speeds, it would take the bullet roughly 10 hours (not counting the effects on speed of gravity from earth or moon) to reach the moon. So you'd basically need to shoot 10 hours before the moon enters the sights of your gun. This is called "leading" and is need in order to hit moving targets.
    If you do all this, then yes, you can shoot the moon.
    Disclaimer: This is all VERY not-exact math. I know.

    • @aidenroggero446
      @aidenroggero446 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Your welcome

    • @aidenroggero446
      @aidenroggero446 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Short answer is yes you can shoot a bullet into space the government doesn't want you doing that because the bullet could drift off into orbit and maybe hit the iss or some type of satellite dish

  • @Cre8iveGaming3
    @Cre8iveGaming3 9 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    spoons are dangerous. in fact its even more dangerous than a bullet. take a look at the video "The Horribly slow murder with the extremely insufficient weapon"

  • @TheOfficialUnofficialGuide
    @TheOfficialUnofficialGuide 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Ever hear of a thing called terminal velocity? Also, the ambient air and resistance from the wind slows a bullet down drastically. I feel as is there was no research done when this video was created. Only an agenda.

  • @TicoMachi
    @TicoMachi 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I usually don't like to take what the Mythbusters do as scientific fact, but when they tested this myth about falling bullets, there was very little they could do to mess it up. Step 1. Find out the top speed of a falling bullet. Step 2. Fire a bullet at that speed at a test dummy. Did little damage. Easy peasy.

  • @carlosluque2346
    @carlosluque2346 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    you underestimate my spoon throwing skills

    • @lshn8457
      @lshn8457 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Dont try it!!

  • @Gumla_
    @Gumla_ 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Gonna hit the skybox

  • @em4knight955
    @em4knight955 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I was expecting they would experiment on what would happen

    • @skip1383
      @skip1383 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Em4Knight Bruh this ain't Mythbusters xD

  • @MECKENICALROBOT
    @MECKENICALROBOT 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    beautifully edited. subscribed

  • @RSQClau
    @RSQClau 9 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Hey guys ! Thanks for explaining this for those who didn't knew what's happening when you shoot bullets into the air, but i have a question for you : How it's going to be when a spacecraft(or sort of) is coming back on Earth entering in atmosphere in South Pole where is Antarctica ? The spacecraft will be upside down ? I find it hard to write it and describe you only in this way, i hope you can understand what i mean. It were easly to show you in a draw or something like that and explaining all of this. I hope you will answer. Thank you !

    • @BrainStuffShow
      @BrainStuffShow  9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Claudiu Tanasescu Thanks for asking Claudiu! We don't know the answer, but we'll add it to our list of future topics to cover.

    • @RSQClau
      @RSQClau 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks Thank you! Keep up the good work !

    • @HaakonTheViking
      @HaakonTheViking 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Claudiu Tanasescu there is not up or down in space. They just enter the atmosphare in the most practical way for them.

    • @Stellarffxi
      @Stellarffxi 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Claudiu Tanasescu If the spacecraft traveled like a screwy flying saucer and went up and down instead of forward, then feasibly they could enter the atmosphere in an upside down type position. Upside down is a phenomenon based on gravity and inverse relativity to your surroundings, so you wouldn't have to enter the south pole in order to experience being upside down... any time you entered the atmosphere in that type of position you would be "upside down" once confronted by gravity...

    • @closhnhex
      @closhnhex 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Claudiu Tanasescu lol the earth is a sphere

  • @BourneAccident
    @BourneAccident 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    People get killed by stray bullets that are propelled by a firearm, not from falling out of the sky. Bullets falling from the sky actually tumble downward and don't spiral down as they would if propelled from the barrel of a gun. So, falling bullets are not really considered lethal. It would be like getting hit by a pebble falling from an airplane. It would hurt really bad, but mostly likely not kill you.

    • @belikebill597
      @belikebill597 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Bourne Accident whatever, your justification is not enough to allow people to shoot in the air. because if it will even not kill, it can still hurt. and thats not the right thing.

    • @BourneAccident
      @BourneAccident 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Be Like Bill You assume quite a bit. I am not suggesting for anyone to shoot in the air. In fact, it's irresponsible and dangerous. All I was saying is that a bullet falling to the ground is not nearly as lethal as one propelled from the barrel of a gun.

  • @Overwatch24
    @Overwatch24 10 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Guys I know this is gonna sound crazy... but I think they might go down when you fire them straight up.

    • @Meerkat218
      @Meerkat218 10 ปีที่แล้ว

      NO WAI WUT

    • @victoriebelle3522
      @victoriebelle3522 10 ปีที่แล้ว

      Also, they won't actually kill you if they are shot straight up.
      The angle is important, too.

    • @fhuber7507
      @fhuber7507 10 ปีที่แล้ว

      Victorie Belle
      You are WRONG... they can kill and have killed people.
      Shooting randomly into the air should be considered reckless endangerment... a felony.

    • @GmWeaver
      @GmWeaver 10 ปีที่แล้ว

      Victorie Belle
      well you also have to do some physics small caliber rounds will probably only leave bruises at most

  • @flaxenelbow6987
    @flaxenelbow6987 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I learned more from the comments then the actual video

  • @SuperZarrabal
    @SuperZarrabal 8 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I thought that bullets went forever lost in space ¬¬

    • @dmand2353
      @dmand2353 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Gabriel Zarrabal Really? XD

    • @SuperZarrabal
      @SuperZarrabal 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Ha ha ha, of course not! I'm just mocking of this stupid question.

    • @Andy-cr2nn
      @Andy-cr2nn 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Gabriel Zarrabal no question is stupid, don't discern the ignorant from learning

  • @Treadstone7
    @Treadstone7 10 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    you guys have heard about... ya know... blank cartridges ?

    • @LynxOnyx-LynxGraphics
      @LynxOnyx-LynxGraphics 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You expect everyone to have blank cartridges?

    • @imbreske
      @imbreske 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Lynx Onyx Yeah, a lot harder to find that live rounds. And, they won't cycle your weapon. You either need a blank firing adapter for your muzzle or a specially made blank barrel (very rare). I suggest firing into the ground, for Christ sakes. Just as loud.

  • @Father.Beocca
    @Father.Beocca 10 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    "depending on the angle of the shot and the power of the gun"
    No, not the power of the gun, it's dependent on the amount of powder in the bullet. A gun is just a mechanical device that uses a firing pin to hit the "striker" on the bullet which set off a chain reaction (striker ignites the powder in the bullet, etc. etc.).
    If you're going to educate us, please you correct information.

  • @tubattas
    @tubattas 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I actually would like to ask how much time it would take the bullet to hit the ground back from up the air. Just to make sure its safe and sound to walk around after any shooting in air, lol.

  • @Ahuc899
    @Ahuc899 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I feel like a more interesting thing to look at is how the angle of the shot affects it's lethality when it comes down. I thought there was something about the bullet tumbling on the way down if it's shot more or less straight up which limits it's falling velocity considerably, whereas if you fire it at a sufficient angle from vertical it'll maintain it's spin and fall ballistically, which will be significantly more lethal.

  • @nishchalpoornadithya
    @nishchalpoornadithya 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    woaw....ur expressions made me nauseous..n d exaggeration killed me

    • @BrainStuffShow
      @BrainStuffShow  7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Just to let you know: "nauseous" means "causing a feeling of nausea". So in this sentence, you said, 'your expressions made me cause other people to feel sick'. The correct word for the situation is "nauseated", which means "experiencing nausea". Not making fun of you -- it's a pretty common mistake.

    • @nishchalpoornadithya
      @nishchalpoornadithya 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks thank you for the correction...but had a feeling tat this kind of presentation was a mere exaggerated version of vsauce (whom I love d most)... but I still appreciate d way u took it professionally...

    • @nishchalpoornadithya
      @nishchalpoornadithya 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks I too give presentations...There has to be a balance between body lang , facial expressions n speech....we find a problem wen one of dese crosses d margin (just like a recipe...adding too much of d same ingredient spoils it)...just a suggestion...take it or lev it

    • @BrainStuffShow
      @BrainStuffShow  7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for offering polite feedback! This video was made over three years ago, and we've all learned a lot about hosting since then. However, Cristen's presentation style is definitely still on the exuberant side -- not everyone enjoys it. And that's OK!

    • @nishchalpoornadithya
      @nishchalpoornadithya 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      *****​ Nauseous is a generalized term,meaning u can say "The smell of rotten eggs is nauseous "which means it causes a feeling of sickness .If you are referring to yourself then the right way is "The smell of rotten eggs makes me nauseated"....and moreover nauseating is synonymous with nauseous.. dey can be used interchangeably

  • @itsvoodoo7050
    @itsvoodoo7050 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Wrong aliens take them for their metal.

    • @mjt11860
      @mjt11860 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      we need to build a better wall to keep those aliens out. i'll call pres trump.

  • @mukeshgoyal
    @mukeshgoyal 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    All my life I tight about it and find randomly a video on it.. 😉

  • @TimpBizkit
    @TimpBizkit 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Instructions unclear, killed a paraglider

  • @carlosaquiles99
    @carlosaquiles99 10 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    The explanation is very poor. I expected more, Dissapointed...

    • @G2DwarfStar
      @G2DwarfStar 10 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      for real.... where was the science behind it.... depending on the angle and powder.... what about the wind speed?

    • @pritsie
      @pritsie 10 ปีที่แล้ว

      I learned that things fall when you throw them! Yay!

    • @thecupcakeman69
      @thecupcakeman69 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      To be fair as a gun owner I know there are so many different variables, types of bullets and guns, wind speed, angles, grains in a bullet. She should have gave an average of all of them and showed maybe some percentage of a chance of being hit or just took one and again took some stats at least. I don't know why in some countries people love firing guns in the air. I have always been terrified of doing it. All my bullets go down range thats it. She should have at least tried though other than saying things go up and then they fall down.

  • @SangoProductions213
    @SangoProductions213 10 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    um....down?

  • @JammastaJ23
    @JammastaJ23 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This was so informative, can do more obvious,stupid ones please? Thanks.

  • @davidaguilarg.7093
    @davidaguilarg.7093 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm Mexico when theres a party called a balacera when the singer starts to sing we shoot guns in the air

  • @trevorwilliams1783
    @trevorwilliams1783 7 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    oh wowwwwww how interesting I thought they just disappeared into a black hole in space, who would have thought they would come back down :O they should do a video on what would happen if you jumped into a fire, maybe the answer is you would get cold

    • @trevorwilliams1783
      @trevorwilliams1783 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      maybe if you shot a gun at the ground it would go through the earth :O? or if you shot a piece of cheese it would jump off and dance around

    • @trevorwilliams1783
      @trevorwilliams1783 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      the channel is called brain stuff, they have no brain stuff there heads are more empty then a gas tank in a zombie apocalypse

    • @trevorwilliams1783
      @trevorwilliams1783 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      this buzz-weed (buzzfeed) and d-boos (Dnews) should instruct Einstein in a experiment to see if his IQ goes below 70

    • @thiccbicc
      @thiccbicc 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      notice how you're the only one in the replies section on your comment. Lol
      Also did you like your own comment? xD

    • @trevorwilliams1783
      @trevorwilliams1783 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Case De Carlo I just had more comments to make, and yes I did, its promotion so others would see because I wanted my comments to make others lol

  • @ryan-jb9fh
    @ryan-jb9fh 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Lol for some reason I always thought the bullets went into space

  • @lt_fancypants315
    @lt_fancypants315 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    I like how the shirt shark is there trying to catch all the imaginary bullets for a lil snack

  • @ericprak
    @ericprak 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    AM I LITERALLY THE ONLY ONE WHO FUCKING CRACKED UP WHEN THAT ANIMATED SPOON HIT HER HEAD?!? XDDDDD

  • @georgecataloni4720
    @georgecataloni4720 10 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The explosion happens in the bullet casing so I don't think guns can be considered "powerful". Guns are just specificly shaped pieces of metal.
    Fun fact: the lower reciever is the only piece of a gun that is technically considered a gun under the law, even though it's equally as useless as all the other pieces when taken apart.

  • @michaelwood4444
    @michaelwood4444 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    no shit captain obvious

  • @1tristan247
    @1tristan247 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    insted of firing an actual bullet into the air use blanks which are basically unfired shells just without the bullet so that means you can fite your gun in the air without having to worry about any bullets coming down and killong someone

  • @bananadog5813
    @bananadog5813 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I used to be an adventurer like you, until I took an arrow to the knee.

  • @Sillybeanss
    @Sillybeanss 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Wrong!!!! The bullet is not lethal when on its way down... there is this thing call teminal velocity..

    • @chivalrous8245
      @chivalrous8245 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      And that terminal velocity is high enough for the bullet to kill whoever is unlucky enough to have it land on them.

    • @Sillybeanss
      @Sillybeanss 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      watch the mythbusters episode about it

    • @Sillybeanss
      @Sillybeanss 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      i was just kidding lmao

    • @bigchungus8108
      @bigchungus8108 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      teller of truth your just a noob that can't play call of duty

    • @Sillybeanss
      @Sillybeanss 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      lmaoooooooooooooo

  • @bojken5384
    @bojken5384 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    cringe

  • @captainmorgen5541
    @captainmorgen5541 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Woow you actually made a video to tell people that a bullet will come back down when you shoot it. Thanks so much!

  • @eran5005
    @eran5005 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow, a whole video describing how things that are shot into the air fall back down, i feel so enriched.

  • @donovanholm
    @donovanholm 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    She doesn't even know what she's talking about. She is just rambling on for time and barely answers the question.

    • @Anthony-kv5uk
      @Anthony-kv5uk 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      And this upsets you enough to post a message? C'mon, grow some skin. Geez.

  • @prashantc2066
    @prashantc2066 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    for a bullet with say some average firing velocity, what would be the approximate time it takes to return to the ground?

    • @pogotard
      @pogotard 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      "Average" 55 seconds. Hatcher wrote a manual about various calibers of bullets fired straight up and they were in the air an average of 55 seconds.

  • @stevendouglas2603
    @stevendouglas2603 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    hmmmm, reaching a climax in air? oh i get it now , the mile high club!!!

  • @Nipponshin
    @Nipponshin 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Absolutely agree, I was expecting a lot more...

  • @sonicquake00ad26
    @sonicquake00ad26 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Has anyone else noticed that in tv shows and movies: some lawmen fire warning shots up in the air in crowded areas? When in fact they should fire warning shots into the ground a few feet away from themselves - perhaps not as dramatic as firing a gun into the air, but safer =D

  • @Pwnage195
    @Pwnage195 10 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Firing blanks is a good idea. :3

  • @Faracus
    @Faracus 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Doesn't even touch on the fact that wind will carry the bullet

  • @barbourj22
    @barbourj22 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Mythbusters disproved the lethality of a bullet fired up into the air

  • @complexham
    @complexham 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank's now i know how to celebrate an ice cream! Yay!

  • @apoc0110
    @apoc0110 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Eating ice cream, throwing the spoon in the air and hitting someone with it wont kill someone?
    Challenge accepted

  • @thegoldenbird9
    @thegoldenbird9 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    good stuff

  • @souldreamer9056
    @souldreamer9056 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I expected to hear about coreopsis effect, rotation, wind resistance, angles, velocity etc. What I got was “what goes up will come down”. Just like the thumb that I award this video.

  • @Drybones195
    @Drybones195 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    How long is the bullet airborne total?

  • @doomzday66
    @doomzday66 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    LOL I was eating ice cream while watching this video

  • @jakephilpott8300
    @jakephilpott8300 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Into the air. Duh.
    *smacks forehead

  • @blumgarasumgum3531
    @blumgarasumgum3531 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Lol i remember when i was little and there was a boat sailing race and when they would shoot into the air i would immediately seek cover xD

  • @nappiral
    @nappiral 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Well said

  • @drbomdaydayboms4890
    @drbomdaydayboms4890 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    I did not know any of this! Damn!! Thank you so much for showing me the truth! I can finally die happy...

  • @TeemarkConvair
    @TeemarkConvair 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    from wikipedia "In Puerto Rico, about two people die and about 25 more are injured each year from celebratory gunfire on New Year's Eve, the CDC says."

  • @eh-eh-ron_
    @eh-eh-ron_ 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    sooo you're saying there is a higher chance of hurting someone if i fire a gun in a crowded area... i thought a bullet would if vanished in air .. im soo happy you made this video..

  • @mohammedbadi5318
    @mohammedbadi5318 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    I was expecting more info like ... would the bullet hit the same spot it was fired from or would fall far away from it...

  • @bigfish8280
    @bigfish8280 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The gun does not have much power at all. What you meant to say is it depends on the power of the bullet AKA the amount of gunpowder in the cartridge and the size of the bullet

  • @armandotoglia
    @armandotoglia 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    your awesome :)

  • @chilledandcool3918
    @chilledandcool3918 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    What about the air stream and how it carries said bullets to a different area?

  • @tokugeeky2931
    @tokugeeky2931 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    This make me think of the that scene from Hot Fuzz now which in turn was taken from another movie I remember.

  • @CogniVision
    @CogniVision 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Shooting bullets in the air, without care, is a prime example of,"Out of sight, out of mind."

  • @graftonhale6392
    @graftonhale6392 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Question: If fired straight up(theoretically) how would the ascending velocity compare with the descending velocity?

  • @lilni1876
    @lilni1876 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Y’all should see Mexico when it’s New Years😂

  • @2012ncis
    @2012ncis 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    In my country it's something normal to fire guns in the air.. On NYE I was at a friends house and the fired bullets were falling on is roof like rain..

  • @theeHeisenberg
    @theeHeisenberg 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    i was curious about the physics. How high would a bullet have to go to escape? At what angle would you have to aim for it to come directly back to you with a standard gun? Because the earth's spinning must play a role

  • @jackhellums9587
    @jackhellums9587 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    what about the coriolis effect? it would then go on to a different direction depending on where you are

  • @SelfEnergetic
    @SelfEnergetic 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    great vid

  • @Litzergam
    @Litzergam 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    This should be common sense, but it isn't. A few years ago my family was at a lake celebrating 4th of July. At the conclusion of the fireworks, we immediately left. I didn't want to get stuck in the parking lot when everyone else was trying to leave at the same time. Someone near the lake shot a bullet straight up into the air. It came down with enough force to kill a little boy. He didn't go to my child's school, but news of a local child dying such a tragic death terrified all of the kids in the area. It's something that everyone still talks about around 4th of July. I feel so bad for that family and also so grateful that we happened to leave before the bullet came down. It happened so fast that there's no way anyone could have blocked it or moved out of the way. Who expects a stray bullet to come down from the sky?

  • @chibao4522
    @chibao4522 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    Happened quite often in Houston..... Mostly on holidays on New Year or 4th of July....

  • @musicliver606
    @musicliver606 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That chick has a lot of energy, lol.

  • @mikhailkonstantin9927
    @mikhailkonstantin9927 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Miss .. actually it comes down 2 to 3 times faster depends on the angel and the air - wind speed .. because of the gravity of the earth (physics rule) . Thanks good information .