cryptogon.com » I Asked Perplexity: “Approximately how loud, in decibels, would a standard velocity 5.56mm bullet be in flight one centimeter from the bullet and 130 meters downrange from the rifle...https://www.cryptogon.com/?p=70301I Asked Perplexity: “Approximately how loud, in decibels, would a standard velocity 5.56mm bullet be in flight one centimeter from the bullet and 130 meters downrange from the rifle?”July 16th, 2024
Is Trump deaf in his right ear?
If anyone with a relevant background would like to perform a sanity check on perplexity.ai’s math below, I’d appreciate it.
Perplexity prompt: “Approximately how loud, in decibels, would a standard velocity 5.56mm bullet be in flight one centimeter from the bullet and 130 meters downrange from the rifle?”Based on the search results provided, we can estimate the noise level of a standard velocity 5.56mm bullet in flight one centimeter from the bullet and 130 meters downrange from the rifle.
The noise level of a bullet in flight is primarily due to the ballistic crack, which is the shock wave generated by a projectile traveling faster than the speed of sound. This shock wave cannot be reduced by a suppressor and is separate from the muzzle blast noise[1].
According to the measurements provided in one of the search results, the bullet flight noise for a .223 caliber round (which is essentially the same as 5.56mm) was measured at 148.5 dB when suppressed and 148.1 dB when unsuppressed[1]. These measurements were taken 55 yards (about 50 meters) downrange from the muzzle and 1 meter to the side of the bullet flight path.
Given that the query asks about the noise level at 130 meters downrange and only 1 centimeter from the bullet, we can make an educated estimate:
1. The distance downrange (130 meters vs 50 meters) likely won’t significantly affect the noise level, as the ballistic crack follows the bullet.
2. The proximity to the bullet (1 centimeter vs 1 meter) would likely increase the perceived noise level, as sound intensity decreases with distance.
Considering these factors, we can estimate that the noise level of a standard velocity 5.56mm bullet in flight, one centimeter from the bullet and 130 meters downrange from the rifle, would be approximately 150-155 dB.
It’s important to note that this level of noise is extremely loud and potentially dangerous. Exposure to noise levels above 140 dB can cause immediate and permanent hearing damage[2]. Therefore, appropriate hearing protection is crucial when in close proximity to gunfire or bullet flight paths.
Citations:
[1]
http://www.larsondavis.com/ContentStore/mktg/LD_Docs/Firearm_Sound_Briefing.pdf[2]
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8588962/[3]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_the_AK-47_and_M16[4]
https://nightgalaxy.com/blog/post/5-56-9mm-a-complete-breakdown[5]
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA519801.pdf