Recoil Force Calculator

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter the mass of the projectile in kilograms (kg). This is the mass of the bullet or projectile being fired.
2. Enter the change in velocity (Δv) in meters per second (m/s). This represents how much the projectile's velocity changes during firing.
3. Enter the time of acceleration (Δt) in seconds (s). This is the duration over which the projectile accelerates down the barrel.
4. Click the Calculate button to compute the recoil force.
5. The result will be displayed in Newtons (N), the standard unit for force.

Understanding Recoil Force

Recoil force is the backward force generated when a projectile is fired from a gun. According to Newton's Third Law of Motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The formula used in this calculator is based on Newton's Second Law of Motion: Force equals mass times acceleration (F = m × a). In this context, acceleration is calculated as the change in velocity divided by the time of acceleration (a = Δv / Δt).

This calculator assumes a simple linear model of recoil and doesn't account for factors such as barrel friction, gas pressure variations, or projectile rotation (spin).

Example Calculation

If a 0.02 kg (20g) bullet is fired with a velocity change of 300 m/s over a time of 0.001 seconds, the recoil force would be:

F = 0.02 kg × (300 m/s / 0.001 s) = 0.02 kg × 300,000 m/s² = 6,000 N

This means the gun would experience a 6,000 Newton backward force, equivalent to the weight of approximately 600 kg (1,300 lbs) of mass.