Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Will a gun fire in Vacuum? Without oxygen or hydrgen etc.?

Update:

hydrogen etc.

5 Answers

Relevance
  • 9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    It will...

    Bullets come equipped with their own fuel *and* oxidizer. No atmosphere needed.

  • John W
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    Gunpowder is a mixture of fuel ( Charcoal and sulfur ) and oxidizer ( salt pewter ) so no oxygen is needed. However unless the gun was designed to operate in space, the mechanical parts would probably seize.

    Note that a Gun was mounted on a Salyut space station and it was test fired once by remote control.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    A modern gun (with self-contained cartridges) will fire - the oxidizing agent is with the powder.

    An ancient musket or flintlock would not fire.

    So there will be no ''Pilgrims in Space'' depicting our forefathers in steam-punk spaceships attacking space-heathens with their blunderbusses.

    Until Hollywood decides that the story line makes it absolutely vital that Hester Prynne blast the intolerant and rapscallion space-mutants with her repeating flintlock of doom.

    Now I'm going to have that mental image stuck in my head for the rest of the afternoon.

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Bullet contains two parts. First part contains lead shot. Second part contains shell filled with gun powder. When bullet is fired the gun powder drives the lead shot with intense forward thrust and velocity. Bullet travels in vacuum also.

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • ?
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    Yes. Bullets contain their own oxygen, and don't need any from the atmosphere.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.