When describing air guns, the specifications state what speed the weapon has with a lead bullet, usually in feet per second.
For others, the speed is not stated but an amount of joules is given.
Is it possible to calculate how many joules a given weapon has if the speed is data, or vice versa, to be able to compare correctly?
Asker: Marc, 57 years old
Answer
Dear Marc
Energy here probably means “kinetic energy”. The relationship between kinetic energy and speed is given by the formula: kinetic energy= 1/2 times (mass of the ball) times (speed to the second power) or E=1/2 mv2.
Answered by
Prof Lambert Stals
Physics
Hasselt University
Agoralaan University Campus Building D BE-3590 Diepenbeek
http://www.uhasselt.be/
Agoralaan University Campus Building D BE-3590 Diepenbeek
http://www.uhasselt.be/
.