Re: Semi-on-topic: Sunday's Non Sequitor cartoon
- From: "Reunite Gondwanaland (Mary Shafer)" <reunite.gondwana@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:34:15 -0700
On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:04:08 -0400, "Francis A. Miniter"
<faminiter@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Sunday's Non Sequitor poses a difficult issue for writers of
sci-fi mystery stories. If you attempt to shoot a pistol on
the moon, for instance, will it fire? The moon does not
have an atmosphere - certainly not an oxygen rich one like
that of earth. So, would there be combustion? Or, as the
little boy suggests, has the packing of the bullet casing
already enclosed enough oxygen to cause sufficient
combustion to fire the bullet? And, he poses a further
question, too. Given the lack of atmosphere, if the gun
does fire, would the bullet travel faster?
Gunpowder contain an oxidizer. You can fire a pistol underwater or on
the moon or anywhere else. There is no need for a surrounding
atmosphere.
Mary "Kind of a silly question, but not uncommon"
--
Mary Shafer Retired aerospace research engineer
We didn't just do weird stuff at Dryden, we wrote reports about it.
reunite.gondwana@xxxxxxxxx or miliff@xxxxxxxx
Visit my blog at http://thedigitalknitter.blogspot.com/
.
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