Difference between revisions of "Bullet bow shockwave"
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| − | A '''bullet bow shockwave''' is a physical and audible wave created in the air when a [[bullet]] travels at supersonic speeds; meaning faster than the [[speed of sound]]. | + | [[Image:Supersonic Bullet Shadowgraph.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A Shadowgraph image of a supersonic bullet. The ''Bow Shockwave'' is clearly visible as the V-shaped line at the front-most tip of the bullet (far right).]]A '''[[bullet bow shockwave]]''' is a physical and audible wave created in the air when a [[bullet]] travels at supersonic speeds; meaning faster than the [[speed of sound]]. |
The bullet bow shockwave is the result of air being greatly compressed at the front-most tip of the bullet as it slices through the air. As the bullet moves forward a broadening wave of compressed air trails out diagonally from the bullet tip. The sides of the bullet create a conical waveform. This conical waveform may be audible to a witness as a whip-crack sound. | The bullet bow shockwave is the result of air being greatly compressed at the front-most tip of the bullet as it slices through the air. As the bullet moves forward a broadening wave of compressed air trails out diagonally from the bullet tip. The sides of the bullet create a conical waveform. This conical waveform may be audible to a witness as a whip-crack sound. | ||
| − | A bullet bow shockwave will be heard by any witness as long as the bullet speed is faster than the speed of sound, whether the bullet was fired from a weapon giving off an openly audible muzzle blast, or a mechanically-suppress-fired muzzle ([[silencer|silenced]] weapon) blast. If a bullet is fired from a silenced weapon, a witness can mistake the bullet bow audible shockwave whip-crack for the weapon muzzle blast audible wave, which is a separate audible event. It might be noted here that if one is involved in such an event, that the sound you hear from a silenced weapon will not be from the point of origin. | + | A bullet bow shockwave will be heard by any witness as long as the bullet speed is faster than the speed of sound, whether the bullet was fired from a weapon giving off an openly audible muzzle blast, or a mechanically-suppress-fired muzzle ([[silencer|silenced]] weapon) blast. If a bullet is fired from a silenced weapon, a witness can mistake the bullet bow audible shockwave whip-crack for the weapon muzzle blast audible wave, which is a separate audible event. It might be noted here that if one is involved in such an event, that the sound you hear from a silenced weapon will not be from the point of origin. Most humans will perceive the sound as being omnidirectional or as emanating from the bullet as it passes by. |
==In History== | ==In History== | ||
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==In fiction== | ==In fiction== | ||
| − | *This effect was | + | * This effect was visualized in several bullet time scenes in "The Matrix" Trilogy. |
| − | + | <noinclude> | |
[[Category:Ballistics]] | [[Category:Ballistics]] | ||
| + | </noinclude> | ||
Latest revision as of 09:43, 10 December 2013
The bullet bow shockwave is the result of air being greatly compressed at the front-most tip of the bullet as it slices through the air. As the bullet moves forward a broadening wave of compressed air trails out diagonally from the bullet tip. The sides of the bullet create a conical waveform. This conical waveform may be audible to a witness as a whip-crack sound.
A bullet bow shockwave will be heard by any witness as long as the bullet speed is faster than the speed of sound, whether the bullet was fired from a weapon giving off an openly audible muzzle blast, or a mechanically-suppress-fired muzzle (silenced weapon) blast. If a bullet is fired from a silenced weapon, a witness can mistake the bullet bow audible shockwave whip-crack for the weapon muzzle blast audible wave, which is a separate audible event. It might be noted here that if one is involved in such an event, that the sound you hear from a silenced weapon will not be from the point of origin. Most humans will perceive the sound as being omnidirectional or as emanating from the bullet as it passes by.
[edit] In History
- This phenomenon may be of primary importance in the "grassy knoll" theory of the Kennedy Assassination.
[edit] In fiction
- This effect was visualized in several bullet time scenes in "The Matrix" Trilogy.
