Question #578c2

1 Answer
Sep 30, 2015

It is a matter of material properties, from the bullet/stone and the glass.

Explanation:

Glass is one of the most complicate materials, it is completely irregular, the atoms orientation compared to other materials.

Therefore, locally, it can nullify the damage, which is the case of the bullet, and not the stone. The bullet is designed to make a hole, to penetrate, it has a sharp ending, the one that hits someone, or the glass in this case, thus, the damage is locally, punctual, concentrated.

Remember from physics Pressure=Force/Area, which means that a small area can cause a high pressure, locally.

The stone damages a big area, its energy is widespread, making a considerable damage, as son to "unstabilize" the glass.

See that different glass can respond in different ways, some glasses are designed to break in small pieces, others in big chunks.