Can a gas cylinder explode from a bullet? #science #mythbusters #physics

Añadido: 2026-05-18

[00:00:00]In a movie, the main character shoots a gas tank and it explodes. The MythBusters tested whether that really works. First, Kari fired from about 33 ft away using a Walther P99, but the bullets couldn't even penetrate the tank. It was clear the handgun wasn't powerful enough. For an explosion to happen, the bullet would need to pass through one side and create sparks as it exited the other. Using a more powerful rifle, they managed to punch through both sides of the tank. But when they tested a tank filled with gas, the result still wasn't what they expected.

[00:00:26]The bullets pierced the tank and the gas escaped, but there was no explosion.

[00:00:29]However, final phase, they used incendiary ammunition. These high-temperature rounds, especially when fired rapidly, were able to ignite the gas and finally produced an effect similar to an explosion. In the end, shooting a gas tank with a normal firearm does not cause the kind of explosion seen in movies.