Bullet Acceleration in Vacuum: Why Does It Stop After Exit?

AI Thread Summary
When a bullet is fired in a vacuum, it accelerates within the barrel due to the force exerted by expanding combustion gases. Once the bullet exits the muzzle, the gases can no longer exert force on it, resulting in no further acceleration. The bullet maintains its initial velocity as there is no external force acting on it in the vacuum. This contrasts with the common misconception that an object continues to accelerate after being thrown. Thus, the bullet's motion is governed by the absence of force once it leaves the barrel.
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If a bullet is fired from a gun in vacuum(assume no gravity, no resistance).

why is it that the bullet accelerates 0 to v inside the barrel but as it exit the muzzle it stop accelerating.

Isn't when the bullet exit , it exit with some force which give it a initial velocity v.
 
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As combustion gases inside the barrel expand they exert a force on the bullet, as long as the force is applied the bullet accelerates. When the bullet exits the muzzle the combustion gases can escape and will disperse in the vacuum.
Because the gas can no longer exert a force on the bullet it stops accelerating and maintains a constant velocity. It does not keep some of the force that initially accelerated it.
 
out of the muzzle, there is no force putting on the bullet --> a = 0
 
It seems a bit difficult as the last force available to the bullet as it exit, will not provide acceleration.

Because many will think that when a stone is thrown it will accelerates to some velocity and then deaccelerate.

But that's right. Thanks for the answer.
 
This has been discussed many times on PF, and will likely come up again, so the video might come handy. Previous threads: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/is-a-treadmill-incline-just-a-marketing-gimmick.937725/ https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/work-done-running-on-an-inclined-treadmill.927825/ https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/how-do-we-calculate-the-energy-we-used-to-do-something.1052162/
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