There's a problem with that 'bullet in flight' photo of Trump

A recent analysis of a photo taken by Doug Mills for the New York Times, which depicts a bullet in flight near Donald Trump, raises questions about the bullet's speed. The photographer stated he used a shutter speed of 1/8000th of a second, which, combined with the apparent length of the bullet's streak in the image, suggests the bullet was traveling at an implausibly high speed of 1,440 to 1,600 meters per second. This is significantly faster than the typical muzzle velocity of bullets, which is around 3,200 feet per second for .223 or 5.56 caliber rounds. Given the distance of approximately 450 feet from the shooter, calculations indicate the bullet's speed should be around 2,890 feet per second. The discrepancy may stem from a possible error in the shutter speed, as a setting of 1/4000th of a second would yield a more reasonable speed of 2,625 feet per second, aligning more closely with expected values. The analysis highlights the complexities of capturing fast-moving objects and the potential for misinterpretation in high-speed photography.

- The bullet in the photo appears to be traveling at an implausibly high speed.

- The photographer claimed to use a shutter speed of 1/8000th of a second.

- Typical bullet speeds are around 3,200 feet per second, much lower than the calculated speeds from the photo.

- A potential error in shutter speed could explain the discrepancies in speed calculations.

- The analysis underscores the challenges of accurately capturing fast-moving objects in photography.