How does the earth's rotation affect the path of a bullet?

[herohog]

Found this this morning and thought I'd share the link. Good data for you Mile+ guys!

How does the earth's rotation affect the path of a bullet?

For DoD'ers: "In Sacramento, the rotation of the earth causes your [bike] to drift about 16 feet to the right per mile." so when doing a wheelie you will have to lean to compensate. Shaft drive bikes aren't affected because, as everyone knows, shaft drive bikes can't wheelie.

 

[honestlou]

That's a good article. This is precisely why I always set up my deer stands to favor an east/west shot, as opposed to north/souoth. I personally find it easier and more instinctual to correct for elevation rather than for windage.

 

[jimdana1942]

It must also vary with your distance from the equator and the alignment of the moon and planets with regard to the earth.

 

[Ritten]

Shaft drive bikes aren't affected because, as everyone knows, shaft drive bikes can't wheelie.

I can prove this one wrong REAL quick!

 

[herohog]

I can prove this one wrong REAL quick!

It's an inside joke among the DoD'ers

 

[Yrdawg]

Soon as I start making over the horizon shots I'll get into this.....good info

 

[blackened1313]

so would it be safe to say that if I jump very high in the air, I would not land in the same spot?

 

[MRBULLRED]

It really depends if it is 9mm or .40..... 10mm makes the earth go in the opposite direction..

 

[Sin-ster]

It really depends if it is 9mm or .40..... 10mm makes the earth go in the opposite direction..

Especially out of a Glock.

 

[honestlou]

That's a good article. This is precisely why I always set up my deer stands to favor an east/west shot, as opposed to north/souoth. I personally find it easier and more instinctual to correct for elevation rather than for windage.

For the record,

1) I was completely joking; and

2) There is probably real science there, but it won't mean squat to any of us; I didn't personally check the math, but I can believe it could mean several inches out at a mile or more.

 

[Jimmy Dean]

so would it be safe to say that if I jump very high in the air, I would not land in the same spot?

if you could jump high enough, yes.

The article does not go much into the coriolis(sp?) effect, but you can probably look it up online.

for things going vertical, just think of it like this. Everything on earth has a specific velocity, which equates to zero relative velocity at your elevation. At a higher elevation, you would need a higher specific velocity to equate to a zero relative velocity,

So, if you jumped at a certain elevation, (and for this example, we are assuming ZERO wind...that would be another concern altogether) and jumped high enough, as you got high enough and looked down, you would actually see the earth rotating beneath your feet, but as you came back to your starting elevation, you would not notice any rotation of the earth, because you are still traveling at taht same specific velocity.

this is just one of the effects of the earth's rotation, there are a few others, as the article mentioned, such as your target moving into or away from a stationary non-ralative horizontal plane depending on direction.