How do you firgure out distance from a shot fired from a sniper

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter spuding102
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods to determine the distance from which a bullet is fired by a sniper. Participants explore various factors influencing bullet trajectory, including the mass of the bullet, gun mechanics, and environmental conditions. The conversation includes theoretical considerations and practical approaches to estimating distance based on observable phenomena.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using the mass of the bullet and combustion energy to calculate work done, but notes the challenge of determining force without acceleration.
  • Another participant argues that the mass of the bullet alone is insufficient due to variations in shell size and powder amount affecting range.
  • Several participants propose timing the interval between seeing the flash of the gun and hearing the shot as a method to estimate distance.
  • One participant mentions reconstructing the flight path and obtaining muzzle and impact velocities to calculate distance.
  • Another suggests that the kick of the gun can be related to the bullet's distance, proposing a formula involving the weights of the gun and bullet.
  • There is a correction regarding terminology from "exual" to "equal" in the context of forces.
  • One participant points out that measuring the distance between the flash and bang only indicates proximity to the gun, not the bullet's travel distance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views on how to accurately determine the distance of a shot fired from a sniper. There is no consensus on a single method or approach, and various factors are acknowledged as influencing the outcome.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on various assumptions about bullet and gun characteristics, as well as the environmental conditions affecting sound and light travel. Mathematical steps and specific definitions are not fully resolved in the discussion.

spuding102
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Given that you have the mass of the bullet and you can figure out the ΔHcombustion by bond breaking energies. I understand you can do W=F x D but and you can get work in jules but you cannot completely get force because F=MA and you only have M and not A.

How do you do it?
 
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without knowing other factors it couldn't be worked out.
The mass of the bullet on its own is meaningless as it could have come from sized shells with different amounts of powder.

for example I used to own several different military style weapons, they were all 7.62 calibre bullets ( pretty common for that use) but the size of the shell and the amount of powder in each was quite different. They all had very different ranges for the same size calibre.

Dave
 
Did you hear the shot?
 
Integral said:
Did you hear the shot?

if yes, then the bullet probably wasnt aimed at you ;)


D
 
It would be easy if you knew the mass of the gun and the kick of the gun in which case you set both forces equal
(h1 = h2)
Or use
Q= n(change in H)
 
Time the distance between flash and bang?
 
Thats the speed of the bullet you need to divide the kick distance by the weight of the gun and then multiply that by the weight of the bullet
 
@anaximenes: How is that related to the distance?

I would try to reconstruct the flight path and find the position of the sniper.
If that is not possible, try to get the muzzle velocity and the impact velocity, this might allow to calculate the distance.
 
mfb said:
@anaximenes: How is that related to the distance?

I would try to reconstruct the flight path and find the position of the sniper.
If that is not possible, try to get the muzzle velocity and the impact velocity, this might allow to calculate the distance.
There must be a similar problem in Astronomy - spotting changes and plotting the subsequent developments. A computer could monitor a panoramic image and recognise gun flashes using some stereoscopic bolt on (I know that doesn't go easily with a panoramic shot but that's a mere detail) and simply range-find the positions of gun flashes. This would be much more effective than wasting one or more human spotters and it would not nod off due to sheer boredom.
 
  • #10
Because a gun shot is a explosion the kick of the gun will have an exual force to the gunshot, so if you mesure the kick distance, then multiply that by the whieght of the gun and divide that by the whieght of the bullet, you will know how far the bullet goes
 
  • #11
equal , not exual
 
  • #12
if you count the distance between flash and bang it willl only tell you how far you are from the gun
 

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