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<blockquote data-quote="Umbran" data-source="post: 6686103" data-attributes="member: 177">Okay, so let us assume you're floating out there in a space suit.&nbsp;&nbsp; Let us also assume you're using a pretty modern firearm.&nbsp; First off, yes, the gun will fire - cartridges these days are loaded with a charge that contains its own oxidant, so it doesn't need to be fired in air to burn.So, you have gun, you pull the trigger.&nbsp; A small explosive goes off in the chamber.&nbsp; A bullet flies... and so do you.&nbsp; This is &quot;conservation of momentum&quot;.&nbsp; A &quot;standard human&quot; is about 65 kilograms.&nbsp; A bullet from a .45 caliber round is about 13 grams.&nbsp; If my quick math is right, if the bullet takes off at a speed of 260 m/s, you take off at a speed of 0.05 m/s - about 2 inches per second.If you are holding the gun up at shoulder level, you'll begin to spin as well, as the force of recoil is away from your center of mass.&nbsp; The bullet will go on i a straight line until it runs into something.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Umbran, post: 6686103, member: 177"] Okay, so let us assume you're floating out there in a space suit. Let us also assume you're using a pretty modern firearm. First off, yes, the gun will fire - cartridges these days are loaded with a charge that contains its own oxidant, so it doesn't need to be fired in air to burn. So, you have gun, you pull the trigger. A small explosive goes off in the chamber. A bullet flies... and so do you. This is "conservation of momentum". A "standard human" is about 65 kilograms. A bullet from a .45 caliber round is about 13 grams. If my quick math is right, if the bullet takes off at a speed of 260 m/s, you take off at a speed of 0.05 m/s - about 2 inches per second. If you are holding the gun up at shoulder level, you'll begin to spin as well, as the force of recoil is away from your center of mass. The bullet will go on i a straight line until it runs into something. [/QUOTE]

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