Calculating Average Pressure in Rifle Barrel from Bullet Launch Speed

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the average pressure in a rifle barrel during bullet acceleration. It involves determining acceleration using the bullet's launch speed and barrel length, followed by calculating force based on mass and acceleration. The pressure is then derived from the force and the cross-sectional area of the bullet. Clarifications are made regarding the values used, specifically that 4,000,000 is derived from the square of the bullet's final velocity and 46 inches represents double the barrel length. Accurate unit conversion is emphasized for correct calculations.
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A 0.015 lb. bullet leaves the 23 in. barrel of a 0.30 caliber rifle (whose bore diameter is 0.30 in) at 2000 ft/s. Find the average pressure of the gases in the rifle barrel while the bullet is being accelerated.
 
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Given distance, initial velocity, and final velocity, calculate acceleration. Use acceleration and mass to calculate force. Use force and the area of the back of the bullet to calculate pressure. You can figure out how to deal with the ugly units.

P_{avg} = \frac{(0.015\ lb.)\left (\frac{4,000,000\ ft^2/s^2}{46\ in.} \right )}{\pi (0.15\ in.)^2}
 
AKG said:
Given distance, initial velocity, and final velocity, calculate acceleration. Use acceleration and mass to calculate force. Use force and the area of the back of the bullet to calculate pressure. You can figure out how to deal with the ugly units.

P_{avg} = \frac{(0.015\ lb.)\left (\frac{4,000,000\ ft^2/s^2}{46\ in.} \right )}{\pi (0.15\ in.)^2}


I don't get where you got the 4,000,000 from or the 46 inches.
 
4,000,000 = 2,000² = v² (where v is the final velocity)
46 = 2 x 23 = 2d (where d is the distance travelled)
 
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