Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for February 15, 2004
February 14, 2004
February 16, 2004
Transcript:
Danae: Whatchya doin', Jeffrey? Jeffrey: Trying to figure something out. Danae: Wanna talk about it? Jeffrey: K... If you were on the moon, which is a vacuum, and tried to shoot a gun, would it fire? After all, combustion needs an atmosphere with oxygen... or does the casing of the bullet create its own atmosphere? If so, the bullet would travel farther in the reduced gravity, but would it travel faster than it does here on Earth? Danae: Only a boy would think of brining a gun to the moon... Jeffrey: See? This is what happens every time I try to have a serious discussion with a girl!
No New Wars 4 months ago
The charge in the bullet requires no atmospheric oxygen: the oxidant is included in the mix.
The bullet would travel faster and further: there is no atmospheric friction.
There is a science fiction story with a gunfight on the moon where one side realises that by firing behind them, they can hit their opponents from behind as the bullets circumnavigate the moon. Probably Ben Bova’s “Men of Good Will”.
Archistoteles 2 months ago
I think that the circumference of the Moon is way to big. Maybe it’ll work on an asteroid but there you have the problem of an almost negligible gravity so that the bullet will shoot off in space. Otherwise it’s a nice idea.