01-04-2010, 03:33 PM
Well, fired *straight* up, a bullet expends all of it's energy going up, and then on it's return trip it will eventually reach terminal velocity which may or may not be lethal (but will definitely not be the same speed at which it went up.)
On a ballistic arc, energy from the initial powder burn is retained on the way "down". The amount of energy retained has to do with alot of factors ("viscosity" of the air, the ballistic coefficient of the projectile) but even with a pretty dramatic "arc" there's plenty of energy left to kill you with. (depending)
On a ballistic arc, energy from the initial powder burn is retained on the way "down". The amount of energy retained has to do with alot of factors ("viscosity" of the air, the ballistic coefficient of the projectile) but even with a pretty dramatic "arc" there's plenty of energy left to kill you with. (depending)
1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442