Eli5 If you shoot a bullet into the air how does it gain enough velocity on the way down to kill someone?

Question

Eli5 If you shoot a bullet into the air how does it gain enough velocity on the way down to kill someone?

In: 5

Answer 1

Gravity. Gravity is the same all the way. It’s slowing the bullet down at a constant rate on the way up, and speeding it up at the same constant rate on the way down. If it wasn’t for energy lost to air resistance along the way, it would hit the ground at the same speed it left the gun. And if it hit you, it would do as much damage as it would if you’d been straight in front of the gun when it was fired.

Air resistance slows it – but not nearly enough to be safe.