How Far Can a Bullet Travel Underwater?
Introduction
When we think of ammunition, we typically imagine rifles and handguns firing into the air or striking solid ground. However, the same projectiles can be just as deadly underwater, raising intriguing questions about their travel trajectory and distance. This article delves into the answers, exploring how far bullets can travel underwater, dispelling myths, and emphasizing the importance of safety near waterways.
Air-to-Water Transfer Mechanisms
To comprehend undersea bullet travel, we need to understand three key factors: density ratio, pressure, and underwater expansion. Density ratio varies between air (about 1.2 g/cu cm) and most liquids, like water and blood (about 1000 g/cu cm). When an object approaches the water-air interface,
- Bullets change direction and behavior: Losing their original kinetic energy while experiencing significant air-to-water resistance and increased mass at the same velocity. It’s like attempting to navigate a ship in turbulent airspace.
- Some, but not all, bulleted ammunition performs poorly upon impact: Especially pointed and frangible variations, as their construction intends to dissipate energy with minimal transfer, aiming to avoid unnecessary underwater drift. Instead, full metal jacket and hard-case bullets maintain structural integrity through water.
- Seawater absorption can dampen kinetic energy: Approximately 0.6 kcal/g of bullet material absorb 0.25 cm in its penetration during underwater travel.
Studies and Results
Scientists tested various subcaliberned rifle and pistol.22-caliber cartridges within 20 cm ( 8 in.) with the following bullet expansion rates:
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•.17-mach2 full-bore bullet, approximately a 25-m reach ( 164 feet)
• Lead pencil tip bullet 80 cm (2.25 ft)
• No expansion in most bullets over 30-50 meters
| Table: | Type | Penetration under water (cm) | Bullet Speed/ **Impact Distance (c m) | ___ |
|---|
| 22 cal-.17-Mach (full bore) • 0.15 ft | 50 cal. at *900 ft | 150 ps | |___
| Lead Pencil | 80 **calibre | No impact under 1 meter |
|---|
Other Influential Fctors
Some external features significantly affect undersea flight:
- Oxygen consumption affects life expectancy
- Surface wind, wave pressure, and temperature conditions at launch point can sway overall performance
- Impact velocity changes on energy levels, depending on air buoyancy
Key Implicatins for Scavenging, Training
- Understanding these patterns helps rescue missions, because bullets tend to move under the water more like a rock or ballistite: The longer-ranged bullet could pass from 25m washed out water with enough speed.
- For security forces and anti-landmine specialists: In coastal or urban water, high-speed bullet drift needs tracking to identify hazards in and out of 0~30 ft zones while working around bodies of saltwater or sewage disposal site.
- As regards forensic investigation and the reconstruction the underwater path the path the projectile, as reported by divers for analysis – a comprehensive look.
While we cannot definitively dictate a bullet’s path upon water contact without empirical measures, studies confirm its erratic movement in varying speeds throughout. With air pressure in mind, you have explored how much far away one bullet will journey beneath under the sea water? Bullets that fail under gravity will always end underwater to around meters based on data.
What exactly can happen once water arrives at this underwater zone before sinking. Keep these specifics in mind:
What does not always remain so in under-water world undersea flight! In certain situations bullets stay more airborne or lose control for distances that go into deep; and their water interaction as we explored them? And now there exist in most underwater regions at distances near water or where? Bullet performance becomes critical information here! We found answers now for bullet traveling. Some, and other specific ways in terms. Keep water as it affects it waterway’s in all three ways – like with speed. How deep did research say bullet. You asked this:
We may now assume some aspects the bullets to some shorter ranges underwater as discussed in table: These calculations have become critical now from 50, meters because bullets were to this for. As discussed below water for your convenience of speed, with our 70 .40S amp.
Conclusion
