Put distance in perspective.
A number on a range marker only tells part of the story. See how small a familiar object looks at 100, 300, or 1,000 yards. Look through a red dot, magnifier, or scope, then explore the forces that shape an object’s flight.
Distance from the viewing point
300 yd
The object keeps its physical size as you change distance.
Illustrative field of view. Illustrative reticle. Illustrative housing.
Fixed 1× magnification
You are here at 0. The orange marker follows the object.
Compare with 100 yards
Same object · 1× ·equal-sized frames
3.0× as far as 100 yd. The object appears 33% as tall at the same magnification.
1 m square: 1 m wide × 1 m tall. These illustrations compare apparent size; large objects may fill the frame at high magnification.
The object keeps its physical size. Open the full tool for optic views and distance comparisons.
Link to this viewWhat changes during flight?
Explore gravity, slowing, and the sound barrier one idea at a time. These concept sketches use illustrative time steps rather than a barrel or ammunition profile.
Concept sketch · vertical drop enlarged for clarity
Equal time steps · the arrow shows gravity pulling down.
Orange: path traveled. Dotted line: path ahead.
Drop grows with time in flight
Gravity pulls downward throughout flight. In this simplified sketch, the downward spacing grows with each equal time step. The curve is exaggerated so the change is easy to see.
The sketches explain general physics. They are independent of the distance selected in the range view.
Read NASA’s explanationReading the scene
Standing view keeps the same camera frame as distance changes. The object gets smaller as it moves farther away. Through optic centers the object and lets you change magnification. Overhead view shows the full layout. The comparison below keeps one object at 100 yards so you always have a familiar reference.
On variable scopes, first focal plane (FFP) enlarges the reticle with the object. Second focal plane (SFP) keeps the reticle the same size in your view. Switch between them and move the magnification slider to see the difference.
Leupold: how focal planes workUnderstanding the flight sketches
Gravity and drag act throughout flight. The sound barrier describes the relationship between an object’s speed and the local speed of sound. The sketches illustrate those ideas without assigning them to a particular barrel, load, or range.
NASA: Mach number and speed regimes