What Happens When You Are Shot Wearing a Bulletproof Vest?
Bulletproof vests are a marvel of modern technology. In television and movies, they always provide perfect protection, but the reality is that the level of protection varies according to the kind of armor you're wearing --- not all vests are created equal. And while bulletproof vests are useful for protecting you against gunfire, they will not provide the same level of protection against knives and other stabbing weapons.
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Composition of Bulletproof Vests
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A bulletproof vest is composed of several layers of light synthetic material. This material usually consists of Kevlar --- a synthetic plastic first introduced in the 1960s by DuPont, though there are several other rival plastics on the market now as well. What's significant about these plastics is that they have enormous tensile strength, meaning that their fibers are highly resistant to being stretched or pulled apart. Additionally, some vests have slots in the front and back for "trauma plates," which are hard ceramic plates designed to provide further protection against projectiles.
Impact
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When a bullet is fired, its effectiveness depends on its ability to deliver a high amount of kinetic energy --- that is, energy of motion --- to its target. Remember that the synthetic material in a bulletproof vest is highly resistant to stretching and tearing. In order for penetration to occur, the bullet has to force the material's fibers apart; in attempting to do so, much of the bullet's kinetic energy is dispersed outward to the material immediately surrounding the point of impact. Kinetic energy is also absorbed by the other layers of synthetic material behind the outer layer. However, there is still enough kinetic energy delivered by the bullet to give you a non-penetrating injury --- also known as "blunt force trauma" --- and even knock you off your feet.
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Armor Levels of Bulletproof Vests
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Bulletproof vests are classified according to the level of protection they provide to the wearer. There are six levels of increasing protection: Level I, Level IIA, Level II, Level IIIA, Level III and Level IV. Level I vests provide the least amount of protection and are rarely used. Only Level III and Level IV vests provide protection against rifle fire, and only a Level IV vest will protect the wearer from armor-piercing rifles.
Limitations
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Bulletproof vests only provide protection within their armor level. For example, a Level II vest provides no protection against rifle fire, so if you're shot by a rifle while wearing a Level II vest, the injury will be serious, if not fatal. Level III and Level IV vests require ceramic plates for maximum protection, which increase the weight of the vest significantly and may limit mobility and agility. Also, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer, bulletproof vests provide no protection against knives and other stabbing weapons.
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References
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