Transporter issue

[Teaos]

In the DS9 episode with the TR-116 (I know, I know, but can we please at least try to stay on topic) it shows the bullet being grabbed by the transporter just after firing, being transported somewhere, then rematerializing and continuing on at what we can assume is a fast speed.

This shows that transporters can not only transport matter but also transport Inertia as well.

Now obviously this is trek and the transporter makes no sense by its self. But it is very odd that something that moves something from one location to another would also be able to let it keep its momentum.

Granted I know bugger all about mechanical physics but this doesnt seem to make a lot of sense.

How would an object that is transported to a location maintain its momentum?

[Captain Seafort]

A better question would be why wouldn't it? Where would the momentum go?

[Sionnach Glic]

Indeed. The energy has to go somewhere.

[colmquinn]

Indeed. The energy has to go somewhere.

Quantum

[Mark]

If inertia is energy, CAN a transporter transport it?

[kostmayer]

If it caught the transporter caught the bullet at the exact moment it is fired, would the chemical reaction that makes the bullet go whoooooooooooosh be transported with it?

[Captain Seafort]

If inertia is energy, CAN a transporter transport it?

Momentum isn't energy - it's momentum. Moreover, it's a property of the round, so asking whether it can be transported is nonsensical - the round will retain its original properties eitehr side of the process.

[Mark]

One thing I've often wondered.............why is there a need to fire the bullet at all? Couldn't you just as easily beam the round directly INTO the target? With a lightly explosive round, that would work just as well, if not better, for a sniper rifle.

[Lt. Staplic]

why go to all that trouble, why not just beam up your enemies and leave them there until their patten fades.

[Mark]

With a starship or with a full sized transporter, you COULD do that, but I'm talking about the micro transporter on a TR116

[Lt. Staplic]

idk, it's probably easier to transport it ouside the body and let it hit, rather than pinpointing the place inside the body.

[stitch626]

I can answer Teaos main question easily. We have seen over and over in Trek where transporters allow objects to maintain their momentum. First one that comes to mind is in ENT (the second ep) where Archer is running and gets transporter and practically runs off of the pad when he materializes.
As for physics, it does make sense, as momentum is only "lost" through collisions.
Also, it is possible that the transporter remembers the properties of a moving object, and therefore returns the object to its original speed (though there may be a way to override it... if there are any eps that don't follow such an idea, it would make sense).

[Tsukiyumi]

...I'm talking about the micro transporter on a TR116

You could always beam out your target's medula oblongata.

[Teaos]

One thing I've often wondered.............why is there a need to fire the bullet at all? Couldn't you just as easily beam the round directly INTO the target? With a lightly explosive round, that would work just as well, if not better, for a sniper rifle.

Because they need to find a empty zone inside the body which is not easy to do. Muc easier to beam a bullet next to it.

[Captain Seafort]

They'd also need to get the target's location pinned down in three dimensions. If you're simply beaming a bullet into the same room you only need to fix two dimensions.