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Is Wonder Woman bulletproof?
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<blockquote data-quote="Random Bystander" data-source="post: 7143465" data-attributes="member: 6702095"><p>We are basically dealing with several concepts here.</p><p></p><p>1) She was originally envisioned during the era in which Superman was "stronger than a locomotive, faster than a speeding bullet..." and, as such, fit into that general category of "not actually invulnerable to sufficiently determined and well-armed humans." (The Golden Age of comics)</p><p>2) Comic book power levels vary, including within the same book, and generally have some measure of "heroic willpower" involved.</p><p>3) Thus, the Bracers of Deflect Projectiles +10 were originally a useful item.</p><p>4) During the "Silver Age" of comics, character power grew to such a level that the bracers were utterly unnecessary against bullets. However, they still served to deflect blasts from cosmic-level threats, and were thus useful.</p><p>5) As character power levels have been in decline since then, the bracers' utility has again increased.</p><p></p><p>Ultimately, from a utility perspective, 99% of the time, the bracers are auto-deflecting projectiles which are not a threat. The benefit comes from the remaining 1%, and in this respect, offer very useful protection.</p><p></p><p>And, given that enemies tend to be uncooperative and may attack at any time, there is no way for her to know for certain when the bracers will be needed. And, given the wide variety of superpowers in the DC universe, there is no way of knowing <u>for sure</u> which threats can be ignored, and which threats must be deflected.</p><p></p><p>So, the utility equation comes down to "wear them at all times".</p><p></p><p>And that is the boring math-based answer. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>Edit: I just realized that I did not, in fact, answer the question in the headline. Note that I am not a ballistics expert, and welcome better numbers. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>The simple answer is "yes". "Bulletproof" does not mean "immune to bullets". It means, at minimum, "can block at least one round of standard ammunition under good conditions".</p><p></p><p>The longer answer is that it actually takes very little to be very bullet-proof, and that most superhero universes actually underpower their superheroes. How, you ask? Well, let us use physics, and another female superhero; Buffy the Vampire Slayer.</p><p></p><p>Now, I cannot recall the exact quote, but it is stated early on that vampires are about 3-4 times faster and stronger than a normal human, and that slayers are stronger and faster. If we give slayers an easy 5 times faster and stronger than a normal human, physics-based, as opposed to narrative-based, math gives us some surprising numbers.</p><p></p><p>First, we have a slayer chase down a vampire. At 5 times stronger than a normal human, early-series Buffy will experience an acceleration of about *10 m/s. As a short, muscular woman, Buffy probably weighs in at 60 kg. That's a force of 600 Newtons.</p><p></p><p>Here's where it gets interesting: How tough does Buffy need to be? Well, if she were an average human cheerleader, she would accelerate at about 2.5 m/s (estimated), and her weight would be unchanged. At that speed, she would experience a force of 150 Newtons. So 4 times tougher, right?</p><p></p><p>We're not done yet. We've yet to see a single punch.</p><p></p><p>An average human punch travels at about 12.5 kph (20 mph). That approximates very closely to 3.5 m/s. The average human arm is 10% of body weight, the average human hand is 5% (IIRC). With an average striking mass of an arm punch of 9 kg, that would have a kinetic impact of pretty much 110 Joules.</p><p></p><p>Buffy, OTOH, our example Slayer, would punch "five times faster", and thus punch at 17.5 m/s, and a kinetic energy of pretty much 2,750 Joules...Without training. She also resists punches beyond that range, as she has fought two other slayers in the early seasons (Kendra and Faith).</p><p></p><p>So, in short, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is, or should be, bulletproof. Thus, by transitive property, Wonder Woman is bulletproof.</p><p></p><p>* Taken from this webpage, estimating down to 2 m/s: <a href="https://www.wired.com/2012/08/maximum-acceleration-in-the-100-m-dash/" target="_blank">https://www.wired.com/2012/08/maximum-acceleration-in-the-100-m-dash/</a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Random Bystander, post: 7143465, member: 6702095"] We are basically dealing with several concepts here. 1) She was originally envisioned during the era in which Superman was "stronger than a locomotive, faster than a speeding bullet..." and, as such, fit into that general category of "not actually invulnerable to sufficiently determined and well-armed humans." (The Golden Age of comics) 2) Comic book power levels vary, including within the same book, and generally have some measure of "heroic willpower" involved. 3) Thus, the Bracers of Deflect Projectiles +10 were originally a useful item. 4) During the "Silver Age" of comics, character power grew to such a level that the bracers were utterly unnecessary against bullets. However, they still served to deflect blasts from cosmic-level threats, and were thus useful. 5) As character power levels have been in decline since then, the bracers' utility has again increased. Ultimately, from a utility perspective, 99% of the time, the bracers are auto-deflecting projectiles which are not a threat. The benefit comes from the remaining 1%, and in this respect, offer very useful protection. And, given that enemies tend to be uncooperative and may attack at any time, there is no way for her to know for certain when the bracers will be needed. And, given the wide variety of superpowers in the DC universe, there is no way of knowing [U]for sure[/U] which threats can be ignored, and which threats must be deflected. So, the utility equation comes down to "wear them at all times". And that is the boring math-based answer. :) Edit: I just realized that I did not, in fact, answer the question in the headline. Note that I am not a ballistics expert, and welcome better numbers. :) The simple answer is "yes". "Bulletproof" does not mean "immune to bullets". It means, at minimum, "can block at least one round of standard ammunition under good conditions". The longer answer is that it actually takes very little to be very bullet-proof, and that most superhero universes actually underpower their superheroes. How, you ask? Well, let us use physics, and another female superhero; Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Now, I cannot recall the exact quote, but it is stated early on that vampires are about 3-4 times faster and stronger than a normal human, and that slayers are stronger and faster. If we give slayers an easy 5 times faster and stronger than a normal human, physics-based, as opposed to narrative-based, math gives us some surprising numbers. First, we have a slayer chase down a vampire. At 5 times stronger than a normal human, early-series Buffy will experience an acceleration of about *10 m/s. As a short, muscular woman, Buffy probably weighs in at 60 kg. That's a force of 600 Newtons. Here's where it gets interesting: How tough does Buffy need to be? Well, if she were an average human cheerleader, she would accelerate at about 2.5 m/s (estimated), and her weight would be unchanged. At that speed, she would experience a force of 150 Newtons. So 4 times tougher, right? We're not done yet. We've yet to see a single punch. An average human punch travels at about 12.5 kph (20 mph). That approximates very closely to 3.5 m/s. The average human arm is 10% of body weight, the average human hand is 5% (IIRC). With an average striking mass of an arm punch of 9 kg, that would have a kinetic impact of pretty much 110 Joules. Buffy, OTOH, our example Slayer, would punch "five times faster", and thus punch at 17.5 m/s, and a kinetic energy of pretty much 2,750 Joules...Without training. She also resists punches beyond that range, as she has fought two other slayers in the early seasons (Kendra and Faith). So, in short, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is, or should be, bulletproof. Thus, by transitive property, Wonder Woman is bulletproof. * Taken from this webpage, estimating down to 2 m/s: [url]https://www.wired.com/2012/08/maximum-acceleration-in-the-100-m-dash/[/url] [/QUOTE]
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