Calculate Kinetic Energy and Momentum for

Air Guns

Kinetic Energy is frequently used to compare the "power" of various air guns.
Momentum, less frequently seen, may be useful in some situations.
To Calculate Pellet Energy and Momentum
  1. Enter the pellet weight in grains

  2. Enter the Velocity in ft/sec

  3. Press the 'Calculate' button below
Pellet Weight
(grains) 		Velocity
(feet/sec)
Energy
(ft-lbs) 		Momentum
(ft-lbs / second)
Here's More Air Gun Stuff:
All About Air Guns Air Gun Contacts PDF Air Guns Catalog Air Gun Factory Catalogs
Top Page Air Guns pg2 Air Guns pg3 Important Links





Technical Notes for Air Gun Energy Calculator:
Kinetic Energy is equal to one half the Mass times the square of the Velocity
or in mathematical notation: Kinetic Energy = ½ x Mass x Velocity2

We are usually see velocity in feet per second (ft/sec) and pellet weight listed in grains (gr.). To convert Weight to Mass we must divide the pellet weight by 7000 gr. per pound and divide the result by the acceleration due to gravity, therefore:

Mass = pellet Weight in grains ÷ 7000 grains / pound ÷ 32.175 ft/sec/sec, and
Kinetic Energy = ½ x Weight Velocity 2  ÷ 7000 ÷ 32.175

This simplifies to:
Kinetic Energy = Weight x Velocity 2  ÷ 450450

Momentum is equal the Mass times the Velocity or in mathematical notation:
Momentum = Mass x Velocity

This simplifies to:
Momentum = Weight x Velocity ÷ 225225




Special thanks to our friends at Bit1 for their assistance with this project.