Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

gliderXC t1_j29w727 wrote

Reply to comment by gliderXC in ELI5: Why is the recoil of a gun not nearly as bad as getting hit with a bullet while wearing a bullet proof vest if they are both the same force? by Tratakaro

To sum it up, when firing a bullet (on a slippery surface):

  • Both the bullet and the shooter are pushed by the explosion, the bullet will speed up much faster as it is lighter.
  • The speed difference is by a factor of (weight shooter / weight bullet) and generally > 200.
  • The explosion energy is put into both the shooter and the bullet. The energy is split unevenly and favors the fast bullet (by again the ratio of weight shooter / weight bullet). The bullet receives most energy, the shooter does not receive much energy in the recoil.
  • Receiving the bullet in the bullet proof vest requires >200 times as much energy absorption compared to the recoil of shooting a bullet.
1