Can a Falling Bullet Hurt You? Here's the Science Behind the Danger

What goes up must come down.
Derya Ozdemir

If the object you've thrown or fired from Earth's surface doesn't escape into the vacuum of space, there is a high chance that it'll come down at one point. After all, "what goes up must come down," as the adage goes. And when it does, you'd better hope no one is beneath it.

In this video by the YouTube channel Debunked, you can learn how bullets shot into the air can represent a very serious hazard when they eventually fall, as they investigate the science behind it. The animation depicts the physics of a falling bullet, highlighting that the gun's position, the angle at which it is shot, the current air pressure, and the final velocity of the bullet all play a role in deciding how lethal a falling bullet can be.

If you're curious to know more, make sure you watch the video embedded above, and stay safe! As Debunked so eloquently puts it, "As you can see, celebratory gunfire is not particularly uncommon, and the risk that it poses is very real indeed. So the next time your football team wins, or you’re just jazzed about it being New Years, it might be a good idea not to randomly pump the sky full of lead. Stick to confetti cannons instead."

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