• FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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    11 days ago

    It isn’t that the water is stoping the bullet- rather that water’s surface tension creates a shockwave that shatters the bullet, and this distributes the mass over more fragments.

    Lower power cartridges are able to survive that shockwave, or it fragments into fewer slugs which keeps its energy concentrated.

    Either way, I wouldn’t want to be near the high powered cartridge hitting the water. You’re going to feel that shockwave.

    • Jarix@lemmy.world
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      11 days ago

      It is the water breaking it. The water doesnt compress so the water doesnt absorb enough of the kinetic energy fast enough so the bullet fractures. As i understand it anyway. The 50cal is travelling a lot faster so a lot more force is applied on the bigger rounds.

      Later on they did a dynamite fishing one and we learned being in water when a large enough shockwave hits is VERY bad for internal organs of squishy creatures in it

      • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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        11 days ago

        It’s the surface tension that causes the shockwave, soapy water wouldn’t have the same effect.

        And yes, dynamite explosives are rather more dangerous under water. Which is how torpedos work to break ships without much regard for armor.

        • Jarix@lemmy.world
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          11 days ago

          Right so its the water that causes it to break because of the surface tension of the water.

          Sounds like you are arguing against my phrasing while agreeing with what i understand. Im confused why we seem to be in a disagreement.

          Maybe you can school my dumb ass though, can you eli5 what would need to happen for you to say it was the water that does the work on stopping bullets?