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gernb
Apr 12, 2004, 01:29 PM
Help me settle a bet.

If a man shoots a bullet out of a gun straight up in the air, upon the bullets descent when it returns down and is at the same height as it was initially fired what will its speed be?

a) the same speed it left the gun

Or

b) terminal velocity

labman
Apr 12, 2004, 07:44 PM
Any falling object will eventually reach a velocity where its air resistance equals the acceleration of gravity. At that time, it will continue to fall at that velocity, its terminal velocity. A bullet shot up into the air will fall back at less than its original velocity because of air friction. It might or might not reach its terminal velocity before returning to the ground.

viking
Apr 19, 2004, 03:10 PM
In the absence of wind resistance it will be the same speed at which it left the gun and with wind resistance it will be the terminal velocity