would shooting a truck with a tank filled with fuel (gasoline) make it blow up like it does in the movies? Why/why not?
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From my understanding not unless the fuel tank is ruptured AND THEN a spark occurs. In most cases there will be no spark after penetration, therefore very unlikely.
Only if there’s a sufficient spark. Some ammunition generates heat (API, tracer, etc.), but [will not likely set anything off](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIo_0qBR8nU). I suspect the metal-on-metal impact of bullets striking the tank might have a better chance.
The Mythbusters tried this in one episode without a lot of luck.
The bullets punctured the tank and just caused it to leak, no explode.
However they later tried with tracer rounds that burn a lot hotter and the tank did catch fire, but they deduced that the chances of it exploding like in the movies was highly unlikely.
Myth busters tested and tried this. You should look up and watch the episodes. They tested gas tanks in cars and propane tanks alike. Short story is No, it’s not possible.
No. Refer to Mythbusters: they actually tested this. The stoicheometric (sp?) ratio is way off. So, explosions need three things (just like a fire) to occur, and they have to be in the right proportions: a source of oxidizer (usually just the air), a source of fuel (the gasoline in the tank), AND. a source of heat or ignition (some chemicals have an “auto-ignition temperature, a temperature at which they will burst into flame without an ignition source, assuming the other two parts are present). Gasoline, IIRC, has a stiochiometric ratio of between 2% and 15% or something like (I probably got I wrong) fuel to air. Outside of that mixture: no fire, no matter how you try to light it. Inside of that ratio: fire or explosion, depending on certain other factors.
Pro tip:
If you’d like to watch the episode of Mythbusters referenced in this thread.
All you need is a VPN set to the UK and download the PlutoTv App where you can stream up to season 8 (maybe it’s 10) on demand.
I think this might work if the fuel tank is mostly empty and the ullage space above the fuel is a mixture of fuel vapor and air at a concentration that is explosive. The heat and shock wave from the bullet might, might, detonate the explosive mixture. Seems like an unlikely set of circumstances.
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