How to Outrun a Speeding Bullet

Do you think you can outrun a bullet?  Most people would say no, but science tells us that we can.  Can you dodge a bullet?  Most of us wouldn’t want to try, but science says that we can.  All you need is a basic understanding of how science works.  Let’s set up an experiment where I shoot at you and you see if you can outrun or dodge the bullet.   Wanna try?

Science tells us that the earth spins from west to east at approximately 1000 mph which is about 1500 feet per second.  They also tell us that everything on the earth including the air and the clouds are moving at this speed and in this direction.  The ballistic tests for my gun says that the bullet will travel at 1200 feet per second at 400 yds.  So let’s test this out.

You stand 1200 feet away from me facing west and I will stand facing you.  According to science, we are both moving 1500 fps west to east along with the earth and atmosphere.  I will aim the gun at you and pull the trigger.  The bullet will race towards you at 1200 fps.  But you will be moving away from the bullet at 1500 fps.  Therefore the bullet cannot hit you because you are moving faster than the bullet.  But wait, I know I can hit you with the bullet, you can’t outrun it, so what’s wrong here. It’s because science tells us that everything moves at the same speed as the earth, including the bullet.  Yet the ballistic test tells me that the bullet travels at 1200 fps but science tells us that the bullet is now moving at 1500 fps.  So which one is it?  Are they wrong?  Or does it depend on which direction I shoot?  Let’s test that out. 

You stand 1200 feet away from me facing east this time.  When I fire the gun at you, you will then be approaching the bullet at 1500 fps while the bullet is approaching you at 1200 fps.  Therefore the bullet should take less time to arrive which would mean that the bullet actually travels faster than 1200 fps.  But wait, the ballistic tests show 1200 fps.  So what speed is the bullet actually travelling at in this direction? 

Then you face north and I face south.  We are 1200 feet apart.  I fire at you.  The bullet takes one second to reach you.   But wait.  You have moved 1500 feet to the right in that one second that it took for the bullet to arrive.  How could I hit you?  Yet I know I can.  How come science says I can’t?   Does this mean that the bullet now travels at an angle to allow for the rotation of the earth?  And does this mean that the ballistic tests in this direction would be less than 1200 fps because of the extra distance the bullet has to travel?   

The ballistic tests show clearly that the speed is 1200 fps with no specifications regarding direction. Yet in these experiments, we should get three different speeds depending on the direction we shoot.  How can this be?

It would sure be much easier to figure out if we didn’t have scientists telling us these things wouldn’t it.  You aim, fire, bang, dead, blow the smoke off the barrel, put the gun back in the holster and ride off into the sunset.  BTW….did you know that you can actually move faster than a speeding bullet?   Now there’s something to brag about….Superman! 

You can find the answer HERE.