Does Glass Break Faster than a Bullet My Take on the Slow Mo Guys video

Published on January 21, 2023
Duration: 6:14

This video explores the speed of a bullet versus the speed of breaking glass, referencing a Slow-Mo Guys video. The presenter analyzes the speeds in feet per second, converting from miles per hour. He tests a standard 9mm round and a specialized German AM32 training round using a chronograph to compare their velocities against the calculated speed of breaking glass.

Quick Summary

Glass can break significantly faster than many bullets. In one observation, glass fractured at approximately 4,713 feet per second (3,214 mph), while a standard 9mm bullet travels around 1,126 feet per second. Specialized rounds like the German AM32 training ammo can approach these speeds, with tests showing velocities between 4,266 and 5,000 feet per second.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Slow-Mo Guys Video & Topic
  2. 00:27The Question: Does Glass Break Faster Than a Bullet?
  3. 00:33Visualizing the Experiment
  4. 00:55Slow-Mo Guys Footage: Glass vs. Bullet
  5. 01:08Speed Units: MPH vs. FPS for Ballistics
  6. 01:33Glass Break Speed Calculation (4713 FPS)
  7. 01:54The Theory: Speed of Sound in Glass
  8. 02:12Introducing the AM32 Training Round
  9. 02:33Chronograph Setup and Testing
  10. 02:51Baseline Test: Standard 9mm (1200 FPS)
  11. 03:10AM32 Test 1: 4266 FPS
  12. 03:25AM32 Test 2: 5000 FPS & Variance
  13. 03:32Conclusion: AM32 as a Contender
  14. 03:44Offer to Slow-Mo Guys for Testing
  15. 03:56Outro & Call to Action

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast does glass break compared to a bullet?

In the referenced Slow-Mo Guys video, glass was observed breaking at approximately 3,214 miles per hour, which translates to about 4,713 feet per second. This is significantly faster than a standard 9mm bullet, which typically travels around 1,126 feet per second.

What is the speed of a typical 9mm bullet?

A standard 124-grain 9mm bullet fired from a 4-inch barrel usually travels at a velocity of around 1,126 feet per second, which is equivalent to approximately 768 miles per hour.

What is the AM32 training round and how fast is it?

The AM32 is a German training round, often a 7.62x51 caliber with a plastic projectile. It's designed for high velocity, with estimates suggesting it can exit a barrel at roughly 4,500 to 4,600 feet per second. Chronograph tests in the video showed speeds between 4,266 and 5,000 feet per second.

Why is the speed of sound relevant to breaking glass?

The theory suggests that the speed at which glass breaks is related to the speed of sound traveling through the glass itself. Sound travels faster through denser mediums like glass than it does through air, potentially explaining the high speeds observed during fracture.

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