Yesterday I saw a documentary in which a scene from an action movie was simulated and tested for truth. In this scene, a bullet was fired around an object by means of a sideways “swing” with the pistol, in order to hit the object behind the first. I already understood from the documentary that this is not possible with human strength and speed. Now I wonder if it is possible with a much greater force and speed? And what would happen if the force of the sideways movement is the same as the force with which the bullet leaves the gun?
Answer
I think I saw the clip too and it’s from the movie ‘Wanted’ with Morgan Freeman (honestly, the trick with those guns is the only interesting thing from that movie).
That scene belongs in the list of ‘physically impossible’. To describe a circular orbit, or part of a circular orbit, you need a force towards the center of the circular orbit DURING THE MOVEMENT. A side swing of the gun barrel can only change the initial velocity of the bullet, but once the bullet leaves the barrel it will describe a straight line motion.
To answer the last part of your question, the bullet will take off at a 45° angle, but from then on it will describe a straight line.
So it has nothing to do with the power a person can deliver: it just can’t.
Answered by
Prof Walter Lauriks
Physics Acoustics
Old Market 13 3000 Leuven
https://www.kuleuven.be/
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