MythBusters Season 4 Episode 7 Bullets Fired Up

In Mythbusters season 4 episode 7, titled "Bullets Fired Up," the team takes on the challenge of testing the mind-boggling myth that a bullet fired straight up into the air will eventually return back to the ground with enough force to be lethal.

To put this myth to the test, the team sets up on a remote, open-air test site with a high-powered rifle and a special ballistics gel dummy to simulate a human being. They fire a series of bullets straight up, calculating the trajectory of the bullets and tracking their descent back to the ground.

Throughout the episode, the team explores the physics behind the trajectory of a bullet fired straight up. They discuss air resistance, gravity, and the shape and weight of the bullet. The team also explores the real-world implications of this myth, discussing cases where people have been injured or killed by falling bullets.

As the team conducts their experiments, they encounter a number of unexpected challenges. They struggle to accurately discern the trajectory of the bullet using high-speed cameras, and they encounter difficulties with the ballistics gel dummy, which proves more difficult to simulate human tissue than they initially anticipated.

Despite these roadblocks, the team perseveres, running a range of tests to try to determine whether or not the myth holds true. They consider a number of factors, including different types of bullets and different launch angles, before coming to a conclusion about the plausibility of the myth.

Along the way, the team also conducts a series of mini-myths related to ballistics, exploring whether or not a wooden shield can really stop a bullet, and whether a person would be able to dodge bullets in the same way as seen in action movies.

Ultimately, "Bullets Fired Up" is a fascinating and thought-provoking look at the science of ballistics, and a riveting exploration of one of the most enduring myths in popular culture. Through their rigorous testing and careful analysis, the Mythbusters team is able to shed new light on the physics behind this complicated phenomenon and provide valuable insights into the real-world implications of firing a bullet straight up into the air.