Can You Blow Up A Car By Shooting The Gas Tank?
It is incredible that the vehicle blows up, when a gun shoots into its fuel or gas tank.
However, the creation of such effects in the movies makes people believe them in real life, too. Thus, it has become important to learn whether shooting the gas tank causes an immediate fire or not.
What Can Cause a Car to Blow Up?
It is a proven fact that for catching the fire, three essential elements are required. These are oxidizing agents, heat, and fuel. Moreover, if any one of these is not present, it is impossible for the fire to light up.
Now, when it comes to the automobile vehicles, there is a meager amount of oxygen in the fuel tank that prevents the fire. And afterward, the explosion of the car.
So, to blow up a car by shooting the gas tank is only possible by punching a hole in the tank for the oxygen to enter and heat to evolve. Because, this lets the temperature of the gasoline reach around 500o F.
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Shooting The Gas Tank: Type of Bullet That Can Blow Up the Car
In every action movie, it is shown that with a single bullet shot in the fuel tank, it immediately catches fire and causes the car to blow up in the air.
However, when some experts performed, it was deduced that even three shots in the tank did not cause any fire. Thus, it proves that the regular bullet does not ignite the fire, as in the movies.
But it is important to know that “Tracer or Incendiary” bullets are built with the pyrotechnic charge in their base.
And, on firing this bullet from a large distance with the gasoline tank as the prime target then, it can cause the tank to explode in some cases.
Otherwise, in normal cases, it would still take more than a single shot to put the car on fire. In an exceptional case, if the gasoline tank is almost empty, it can catch up to the fire but still, its likelihood is quite small.
Safety of the Gas Tank
Apart from shooting the gas tank, the vehicles experiencing a sudden stress can produce a lot of heat due to friction.
Therefore, to avoid any blow up, the regular authorities already have enforced the security standards to ensure that the tank doesn’t catch fire easily.
So, now finally getting this industrial knowledge regarding the car blown up, would not let you panic, even if your car met with an accident or was shot by a gun.
FAQs
1. Why do cars explode when shot in movies but not in real life?
Movie scenes often exaggerate or alter reality for dramatic effect. Explosions from shooting gas tanks in films are a product of special effects rather than an accurate representation of what would happen in a real-world scenario.
2. Are there any real incidents of cars exploding due to a shot fuel tank?
There are very few documented cases of cars exploding due to being shot at the gas tank, and these incidents typically involve additional factors like the presence of incendiary rounds or an already volatile situation like a fire nearby.
3. How are modern car gas tanks designed to prevent explosions?
Modern car gas tanks are designed with safety features like reinforced materials, anti-leak structures, and pressure release systems to minimize the risk of leaks, spills, and potential explosions.
4. What kind of ammunition would have a higher chance of igniting a gas tank?
Ammunition like incendiary rounds, which are designed to create intense heat upon impact, would have a higher chance of igniting a gas tank, but their use is typically restricted to military applications and not available to the general public.
5. Is it dangerous to shoot at a car’s gas tank?
Yes, it is dangerous and highly discouraged. While an explosion might be unlikely, shooting a gas tank can still cause fuel leaks, fires, and other hazardous situations. Additionally, discharging a firearm in such a manner is illegal and irresponsible.
6. Can a car’s gas tank explode under other circumstances?
While difficult to ignite by a bullet, gas tanks can explode under other circumstances such as a severe car crash, exposure to an external fire, or due to manufacturing defects.
However, such incidents are rare thanks to stringent safety standards in car manufacturing.
Check out this video from Garage 54 to know more about blown up gas tanks!
Conclusion
In conclusion, the commonly held belief that shooting a car’s gas tank can easily lead to an explosion is largely a myth, more rooted in cinematic dramatization than in reality.
Modern automotive fuel tanks are designed with robust safety features to prevent leaks and explosions, even when subjected to significant trauma like gunfire.
The conditions required for a gas tank to explode – a precise mixture of fuel vapor and air, along with a potent ignition source – are not typically met in everyday scenarios, including being shot with standard ammunition.
