Bullets from real guns only ‘zing’ if they ricochet off something hard at a fairly shallow angle. This causes them to tumble very rapidly and the turbulence of this motion as they fly off, sounds like a high-pitched whine that fades into the distance. TV shows and movies overused this sound effect so much in the past that we have now come to expect it.

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Asked by: Paul from NC, via email

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luis villazon
Luis VillazonQ&A expert

Luis trained as a zoologist, but now works as a science and technology educator. In his spare time he builds 3D-printed robots, in the hope that he will be spared when the revolution inevitably comes.