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Bullets Do Not Burn Skin

Burn injury is caused by heat transfer to tissues. There are two key factors that limit the amount of heat transfered to a target from a projectile: the difference between the surface temperature of the projectile and the temperature of the target, and the contact time of the projectile with the target. We will discuss the range of possible temperature of the lead bullet and its contact time with Chen's abdominal skin, and show why it is absolutely impossible to have any burn injury.



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