Why is the barrel size important for the muzzle velocity and the range?
In: Engineering
Barrel length is important. While the bullet is in the barrel, the gunpowder explosion is imparting force on the bullet. The force causes the bullet to go faster and faster. The bullet is actually accelerating the entire time it is in the barrel. As soon as it leaves the barrel there is no more pressure behind it so it stops accelerating and starts slowing down instead due to air resistance. Longer barrel means more time accelerating which means a higher velocity when it exits.
The range is increased because, as I mentioned before, the bullet will start to slow down due to air resistance. The higher the initial velocity the longer it takes to slow down and therefore can travel further.
If we want to get a little more complicated, in reality, gravity acts on the bullet as well and will pull it down long before it actually slows to a stop from air resistance. This gives bullets a rounded trajectory. Two bullets of the same weight will always fall at the same speed, but the faster one will travel further before it hits the ground. This makes it easier to hit further targets since you don’t have to adjust your aim up as much.
Latest Answers