Answer to Question #161969 in Classical Mechanics for Terry

Question

A hunter fires a gun while standing with the bottom of the gun against her shoulder. If the forward momentum of the bullet is the same as the backward momentum of the gun, why is it not dangerous to be hit by the gun as it is by the bullet?

Answer 1

$p_1=p_2,$

$m_1v_1=M_2v_2,$

$v_2=\frac{m_1v_1}{M_2},$

the momentums are the same, but the velocity of the gun is much smaller because it's mass is so large, $M_2 \gg m_1.$