There are many mysteries about the universe and space in general. We will not unravel all of them, but we will tell you about a trivial thing that might have crossed your mind. Could you shoot a gun in space, and what would happen if you did? While the scenario might sound like the plot of a science fiction movie, unraveling the physics involved can provide intriguing insights into the nature of space itself.
One might assume that in the vacuum of space, where oxygen is absent, firing a gun would be futile. However, firearms contain their own oxidizer, ensuring combustion even in the void of space. Theoretically, one could indeed shoot a gun in space, although no records exist of such an audacious experiment. A silent discharge would follow the trigger pull, resonating with Newton’s third law. While the vacuum eliminates sound propagation, the recoil would still be perceptible through your arm. As the bullet exits the barrel, the shooter will start moving in the opposite direction.
How long would the bullet travel to space?
In the microgravity environment of space, the absence of atmospheric resistance and gravity alters the trajectory of the bullet dramatically. On Earth, gravity pulls a bullet down rapidly, limiting its horizontal travel distance. In space, devoid of substantial air resistance or gravitational effects, a bullet would maintain its initial speed for an extended duration.
The concept of ‘space resistance’ comes into play as the bullet encounters sporadic atoms along its path, causing a gradual loss of energy. In a static universe, the bullet could persist for millions of light-years before succumbing to inertia. Yet, the dynamic nature of our expanding universe introduces a cosmic twist. As the universe expands, the space between atoms widens, surpassing the bullet’s relatively modest pace. The bullet becomes an eternal wanderer, perpetually outrun by the receding matter. Shooting into space, the bullet faces an astronomical challenge—never encountering enough matter to halt its journey.
Contrary to intuition, the likelihood of a bullet hitting something in the vast cosmic expanse is remarkably low. Space, of course, is mostly characterized by emptiness, and this makes celestial collisions a real rarity. Even NASA’s Voyager probes, hurtling towards interstellar realms, are forecasted to encounter another star only once in about 5 billion years.
Therefore, should you ever find yourself contemplating a cosmic marksmanship venture, aiming your bullet into space might lead it on an eternal journey, navigating the cosmos without ever encountering another celestial object, altering its trajectory, or slowing down.
