What would happen if you shot a gun in space?

Asked by: Jack O’Neill, Glasgow

Assuming you are floating freely in space the gun will work just as it does on Earth. However, the bullet will continue moving for many thousands of years, eventually coming to a stop due to the friction from the diffuse material found in ‘empty’ space (or when it encounters another object). Because of conservation of momentum, however, you will also begin to move, in the opposite direction to the bullet, at a velocity of several centimeters per second.

Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.