How many shots with a Luger does it take to kill a cow?

Gene · 05-20-2003, 04:16 PM

Jack,

Not to belabor a point, but momentum (mass times velocity) is always conserved, regardless of energy considerations. In a bullet, all of the energy is kinetic while in flight, but in the target, part of the energy is kinetic in moving the bovine with imbedded bullet, and part is utilized in deforming the bullet and bovine. Thus, energy transfer is variable, as you pointed out, but the momentum is not.

Regards,
Gene

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05-20-2003, 04:16 PM	#9
Gene User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Jack, Not to belabor a point, but momentum (mass times velocity) is always conserved, regardless of energy considerations. In a bullet, all of the energy is kinetic while in flight, but in the target, part of the energy is kinetic in moving the bovine with imbedded bullet, and part is utilized in deforming the bullet and bovine. Thus, energy transfer is variable, as you pointed out, but the momentum is not. Regards, Gene