Shooting a monkey...

[effilctar]

With all these "impossible questions popping up left, right and centre tonight, I thought I'd ask you a physicsy question that is a lot easier:

There is a monkey hanging from a tree. You are in another tree on the same level as the monkey and wish to shoot it between the eyes with your rifle, however, the monkey will let go of the branch and begin to drop the instant it hears the gunshot. Where do you aim if you want the bullet to him the monkey between the eyes?

edit: assume the speed of the bullet is less than the speed of sound, so the monkey has started to drop before your bullet reaches it. (crap gun I know)

 

[Last of the Chinchillas]

Top of its head maybe? It's not like it would fall that far before the bullet got there.

 

[quiet_samurai]

Between the eyes, because the bullet is traveling faster then the sound of it's own gunshot so it will hit him before he hears it. Unless you are a shitty marksman.

 

[Helmet]

If I remember right, directly between the eyes, since a bullet is faster than the speed of sound?

EDIT: Ninja bastard...

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

I wouldn't shoot it.
I mean, come on. It's a monkey.
What kind of asshole wants to shoot a monkey?

 

[Aardvark]

Most bullets travel faster than sound through air. If the bastard can hear you and react before the thing gets there, move closer.

Or use a crossbow.

 

[internetzealot1]

Without knowing the distance between you and the mokey, the diameter of the monkey's eyes, or how aerodynamic mokeys are, this question is impossible to answer.

I would like my trophy, please.

 

[IrishBerserker]

Put a silencer on the rifle, problem solved.

 

[APPCRASH]

Depends on the distance between trees and the rifle. If it were like most modern day assault rifles, they have an average bullet velocity of about 3000ft/s (or 950m/s for you Euros), so if I were within a tenth of a mile or less I would just aim in center mass of the head. The further away I would aim lower on the head. About every 500ft I'd aim an inch lower.

Just my guess.

 

[Internet Kraken]

How far away is the monkey?

 

[brutus3933]

Between the eyes, gravity effects the bullet and the monkey at the same rate.

 

[effilctar]

Spoiler: The answer

Between it's eyes, the bullet and the monkey drop at the same rate. we tried it in college except with a ball bearing and a tin can

 

[ma55ter_fett]

you don't since in just about every country this would be poaching, and the "game wardens" in those parts carry AK-47's

 

[quiet_samurai]

Put a silencer on the rifle, problem solved.

Wouldn't matter, supressors only work for certain typs of ammunition. Specifically sub-sonic ammunition. And rifles usually don't come in the sub-sonic variety.

 

[Bob the Average]

well it really depends on the rifle with most rifles you won't have to as the bullet will travel faster than the speed of sound.

 

[grimsprice]

Spoiler: The answer

Between it's eyes, the bullet and the monkey frop at the same rate. we tried it in college except with a ball bearing and a tin can

Wrong, the time it takes for the sound waves to reach the monkey will make up most all of the bullets travel time. No bullets travel slow enough for the monkey to make any meaningful drop. Compensating for the bullets fall is the only necessary step.

If you wanted to get people to realize the physics concept you are talking about you might want to re-phrase the question. Such as, "the muzzle flash of the gun will make the monkey fall out of the tree immediately". That would work better as the lag of a flash of light is negligible at these speeds and distances.

 

[IrishBerserker]

Put a silencer on the rifle, problem solved.

Wouldn't matter, supressors only work for certain typs of ammunition. Specifically sub-sonic ammunition. And rifles usually don't come in the sub-sonic variety.

Rifle & ammo types weren't specified.

Then use an RPG-7 & say you hit him between the eyes. Won't be enough left to confirm the shot.(if there is thats a big monkey)

 

[quiet_samurai]

Put a silencer on the rifle, problem solved.

Wouldn't matter, supressors only work for certain typs of ammunition. Specifically sub-sonic ammunition. And rifles usually don't come in the sub-sonic variety.

Then use an RPG-7 & say you hit him between the eyes. Won't be enogh left to confirm the shot.(if there is thats a big monkey)

Lol, now we're talking. You don't even have to actually hit him, just get close.

 

[Daniel Cygnus]

I wouldn't shoot it.
I mean, come on. It's a monkey.
What kind of asshole wants to shoot a monkey?

I do. I DESPISE monkeys. DESPISE.

Right between the eyes. Faster than the speed of sound.

 

[Simalacrum]

I'd wait till it hit the ground then shoot it. If I miss I would shoot to wound (bigger target) then get down to the ground and beat the mother fu**er to death.