why did they need a spacesuit to fire a gun?
Will a gun fire without oxygen?
Zoe: She shot you. Mal: Well, yeah, she did a bit... still --
'Serenity'
Natter 43: I Love My Dead Gay Whale Crosspost.
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Tom Scola - Mar 28, 2006 6:16:43 am PST #6546 of 10001
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
Ailleann - Mar 28, 2006 6:16:54 am PST #6547 of 10001
vanguard of the socialist Hollywood liberal homosexualist agenda
Nebbermind. X-posty goodness.
Dana - Mar 28, 2006 6:17:02 am PST #6548 of 10001
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.
Now that I think about it, why did they need a spacesuit to fire a gun?
Something about oxygen, wasn't it?
tommyrot - Mar 28, 2006 6:17:30 am PST #6549 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Now that I think about it, why did they need a spacesuit to fire a gun?
Yeah, that bothered me. I don't think you'd need external oxygen for the chemical reaction to occur inside the shell casing.
But, whatev....
tommyrot - Mar 28, 2006 6:20:20 am PST #6550 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Will a gun fire without oxygen?
The actual stuff that goes "boom" in the gun wouldn't need oxygen, as it already has it in chemical form - much like a solid-fuel rocket. The only other issue is the percussion cap, which ignites the chemicals in the shell when it's hit by the firing pin. I don't think that need external oxygen either, but I don't know what kind of chemical reaction is occuring there....
Gudanov - Mar 28, 2006 6:20:25 am PST #6551 of 10001
Coding and Sleeping
Will a gun fire without oxygen?
The cartridge has carries it's own oxidizing agent. Aren't there anti-shark weapons that fire a shotgun shell underwater? I didn't give it a second thought when I saw the show, but on second thought, I don't think you need an oxygen supply.
It's not very important, just a struck me upon seeing the quote.
Edit: Talking about whether a gun will work in space is a male cliche, isn't it. Damn.
tommyrot - Mar 28, 2006 6:23:23 am PST #6552 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Aren't there anti-shark weapons that fire a shotgun shell underwater?
Yeah, you'd think that anti-shark guns would still fire if one encountered a Space Shark.
Nutty - Mar 28, 2006 6:23:40 am PST #6553 of 10001
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
Don't quote me, but isn't the "chemical reaction" in a shell casing dependent on O2 to actually burn? Most firey explosions have that problem.
I mean, the way the episode was set up, it wasn't exactly a plot point; I thought it was a nice nod to Physics Reality.
sarameg - Mar 28, 2006 6:25:18 am PST #6554 of 10001
Chocolate never belongs in oatmeal cookies. Blerg. Raisins are fine, though.
Gudanov - Mar 28, 2006 6:25:30 am PST #6555 of 10001
Coding and Sleeping
Don't quote me, but isn't the "chemical reaction" in a shell casing dependent on O2 to actually burn? Most firey explosions have that problem.
It has it's own O2. If it didn't, the cartridge would do more of a smolder than a bang.