What is a gun?
Q: What is a gun?
A: A gun is a weapon used to shoot one or more metal projectiles called bullets.
Q: Where and when were guns first made?
A: Guns made of wood or bamboo are thought to have been made in China around 1000 AD. In the next few centuries they spread to other parts of Asia and to Europe where they were made of metal.
Q: How did guns replace catapults and bows and arrows?
A: Guns largely replaced catapults and bows and arrows when they became strong enough to reach out over longer distances to reliably hit a target.
Q: What are the basic parts of small arms firearms?
A: Small arms firearms typically have the same basic parts, which include a trigger, barrel, and handgrip or stock.
Q: How does a gun fire?
A: When the shooter's finger pulls the trigger, it releases a bullet from the barrel which then flies towards its target.
Q: Why are guns effective weapons?
A: Guns can be very effective weapons because their bullets fly faster than an arrow or spear, their high kinetic energy makes them more lethal, and they can shoot from far distances.
