A Simple Question in Physics
Question: How long does a “Target” accelerate when a bullet passes through it:
Answer 1: Only accelerates for 1 to 2 milliseconds.
Answer 2: Will continue to accelerate a good deal longer than 1 to 2 milliseconds.
The question and answers had to be made shorter, should really be:
Question: How long does a “Target” accelerate when a bullet passes through it, as a result of being struck by a bullet:
Answer 1: Only accelerates for 1 to 2 milliseconds, after which a simple target will travel at a constant velocity.
Answer 2: Will continue to accelerate a good deal longer than 1 to 2 milliseconds, long after the bullet has left the target.
A little background information.
The Conservation of Momentum is a basic law of Physics. When a bullet strikes an object, momentum is transferred from the bullet to the object. The object will be pushed in the same direction as the bullet. But the object will only gain velocity, will only gain momentum, while the bullet is within the object. Once the bullet has passed through the object, no more momentum is added. The speed of a simple target will be constant.
Velocity is the speed of an object (and its direction). Acceleration is the rate the Velocity changes (and its direction). So, if the velocity of an object is 5 feet per second, and the acceleration, in the same direction is 2 feet per second per second, at Time 0 seconds, the velocity is 5 fps, at Time 1 seconds, the velocity is 7 fps, at Time 2 seconds, the velocity is 9 fps, etc.
A bullet will pass through the target object within 1 to 2 milliseconds. The target will receive a “jolt” but won’t continue to accelerate once the bullet leaves the target.
Assume other forces, like the acceleration of the limousine, are insignificant. Because the limousine’s acceleration was very small and insignificant.
