| Author |
Message |
Cygnus
Resident
Joined: Mar 26, 2008
Posts: 361
|
 Posted:
Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:34 am |
 
|
DU makes the rounds more dense and heavy. This increases penetrating power. Which will break a window easier, a golf ball or dense rock of the same size? |
_________________
"The Jewish-Christian-Muslim is waiting to be free" |
|
|
|
MockingGods
Philosophical Prodigy
Joined: Nov 14, 2002
Posts: 3830
Location: USA
|
| Posted:
Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:54 am |
|
| Cygnus wrote: |
| DU makes the rounds more dense and heavy. This increases penetrating power. |
oh... interesting. So there aren't other compounds that would serve this same purpose that aren't radioactive?
| Quote: |
| Which will break a window easier, a golf ball or dense rock of the same size? |
That would depend on the relative velocity. Equal velocity and the more massive/dense object would be more penetrative; however, it would also require more energy to propel. |
|
|
|
|
|
Cygnus
Resident
Joined: Mar 26, 2008
Posts: 361
|
| Posted:
Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:43 am |
|
| Quote: |
oh... interesting. So there aren't other compounds that would serve this same purpose that aren't radioactive?
|
There are, but none work as well as DU. Tungsten was used, but fractures on armor. DU rounds are dense, so they stay intact on their path through the armor. The radioactiveness of DU is not a big problem, but when DU from missiles and bombs (it turns out missiles and bombs contain DU) vaporizes on impact, the dust is chemically dangerous when inhaled. This is responsible for the birth defects. There has been research into dense tungsten alloys, but these are dangerously carcenogenic.
The U.S. is not the only country who uses DU; Britain and France also use it in munitions.
| Quote: |
| That would depend on the relative velocity. Equal velocity and the more massive/dense object would be more penetrative; however, it would also require more energy to propel. |
Yes, if the golf ball and the rock were thrown at the same velocity, the rock would penetrate at one point where the golf ball would not. This is why the denseness of DU is preferable; as a heavy metal, it is denser than other metals. The only thing denser would be a denser heavy metal (probably more toxic). |
_________________
"The Jewish-Christian-Muslim is waiting to be free" |
|
|
|
|
MockingGods
Philosophical Prodigy
Joined: Nov 14, 2002
Posts: 3830
Location: USA
|
| Posted:
Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:36 am |
|
Thanks for clearing that up for me Cygnus  I've a good understanding why that particular element is used now. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* You can syndicate our news and blog using the file