how many water balloons it takes to stop a bullet?

Published on April 5, 2016
Duration: 5:36

This experiment tests how many water balloons are needed to stop a 5.56 bullet fired from an AR-15. The results show that surprisingly few balloons are required, with only three successfully halting the projectile. The test highlights the significant energy transfer and potential of even seemingly simple materials like water balloons when subjected to ballistic forces.

Quick Summary

In an extreme test, only three large water balloons were needed to stop a 5.56 bullet fired from a Smith & Wesson AR-15 rifle. The experiment involved lining up balloons in a trough to test their ballistic penetration resistance.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Water Balloon Bullet Test Setup
  2. 00:41Experiment Parameters: Balloon Arrangement
  3. 01:26Firearm and Ammunition: AR-15 and 5.56 Round
  4. 02:01First Test Shot and Impact Analysis
  5. 03:54Second Test Shot to Confirm Results
  6. 05:17Conclusion: Balloons Needed to Stop Bullet

Frequently Asked Questions

What firearm was used in the water balloon bullet test?

The experiment used a Smith & Wesson M&P AR-15 rifle. The ammunition fired was a 5.56 round, commonly used in AR-15 platforms.

How many water balloons were needed to stop the bullet?

Surprisingly, only three water balloons were required to successfully stop the 5.56 bullet fired from the AR-15 rifle. This was confirmed in two separate test shots.

What were the parameters of the water balloon experiment?

The test involved lining up approximately 12 large water balloons (9-10 inches in diameter) in a wooden trough. The goal was to see how many it would take to halt a projectile.

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