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Ballistics is a science that studies processes. Internal ballistics, shot and its periods. Projectiles and launchers

Internal and external ballistics.

Shot and its periods. The initial speed of the bullet.

Lesson number 5.

"RULES FOR SHOOTING FROM SMALL ARMS"

1. Shot and its periods. The initial speed of the bullet.

Internal and external ballistics.

2. Shooting rules.

Ballistics is the science of the movement of bodies thrown in space. It focuses primarily on the movement of projectiles fired from firearms, rocket projectiles and ballistic missiles.

A distinction is made between internal ballistics, which studies the movement of a projectile in the gun channel, as opposed to external ballistics, which studies the movement of a projectile after exiting the gun.

We will consider ballistics as the science of the movement of a bullet when fired.

Internal ballistics is a science that studies the processes that take place when a shot is fired and, in particular, when a bullet moves along a barrel bore.

A shot is the ejection of a bullet from the bore of a weapon by the energy of gases formed during the combustion of a powder charge.

When fired from small arms, the following phenomena occur. From the impact of the striker on the primer of a live cartridge sent into the chamber, the percussion composition of the primer explodes and a flame forms, which penetrates through the hole in the bottom of the sleeve to the powder charge and ignites it. During the combustion of a powder (or so-called combat) charge, a large amount of highly heated gases are formed, which create high pressure in the barrel bore on the bottom of the bullet, the bottom and walls of the sleeve, as well as on the walls of the barrel and the bolt. As a result of the pressure of gases on the bullet, it moves from its place and crashes into the rifling; rotating along them, it moves along the bore with a continuously increasing speed and is thrown outward in the direction of the axis of the bore. The pressure of gases on the bottom of the sleeve causes recoil - the movement of the weapon (barrel) back. From the pressure of gases on the walls of the sleeve and the barrel, they are stretched (elastic deformation) and the sleeves, tightly pressed against the chamber, prevent the breakthrough of powder gases towards the bolt. At the same time, when fired, an oscillatory movement (vibration) of the barrel occurs and it heats up.

During the combustion of a powder charge, approximately 25-30% of the energy released is spent on communicating the translational motion to the pool (the main work); 15-25% of energy - to perform secondary work (cutting and overcoming the friction of a bullet when moving along the bore, heating the walls of the barrel, cartridge case and bullet; moving the moving parts of the weapon, gaseous and unburned parts of gunpowder); about 40% of the energy is not used and is lost after the bullet leaves the bore.



The shot passes in a very short period of time: 0.001‑0.06 seconds. When fired, four periods are distinguished:

Preliminary;

First (or main);

Third (or period of aftereffect of gases).

Preliminary period lasts from the beginning of the burning of the powder charge to the complete cutting of the shell of the bullet into the rifling of the bore. During this period, the gas pressure is created in the barrel bore, which is necessary in order to move the bullet from its place and overcome the resistance of its shell to cutting into the rifling of the barrel. This pressure (depending on the rifling device, the weight of the bullet and the hardness of its shell) is called forcing pressure and reaches 250-500 kg / cm 2. It is assumed that the combustion of the powder charge in this period occurs in a constant volume, the shell cuts into the rifling instantly, and the movement of the bullet begins immediately when the forcing pressure is reached in the bore.

First (main) period lasts from the beginning of the movement of the bullet until the moment of complete combustion of the powder charge. At the beginning of the period, when the speed of the bullet along the bore is still low, the amount of gases grows faster than the volume of the bullet space (the space between the bottom of the bullet and the bottom of the case), the gas pressure rises rapidly and reaches its maximum value. This pressure is called maximum pressure. It is created in small arms when a bullet travels 4-6 cm of the path. Then, due to the rapid increase in the speed of the bullet, the volume of the bullet space increases faster than the influx of new gases and the pressure begins to fall, by the end of the period it is equal to approximately 2/3 of the maximum pressure. The speed of the bullet is constantly increasing and by the end of the period reaches 3/4 of the initial speed. The powder charge completely burns out shortly before the bullet leaves the bore.

Second period lasts from the moment of complete combustion of the powder charge until the moment the bullet leaves the barrel. With the beginning of this period, the influx of powder gases stops, however, highly compressed and heated gases expand and, putting pressure on the bullet, increases its speed. The speed of the bullet at the exit from the bore ( muzzle velocity) is slightly less than the initial speed.

initial speed called the speed of the bullet at the muzzle of the barrel, i.e. at the time of its departure from the bore. It is measured in meters per second (m/s). The initial speed of caliber bullets and projectiles is 700‑1000 m/s.

The value of the initial speed is one of the most important characteristics of the combat properties of weapons. For the same bullet an increase in the initial speed leads to an increase in the flight range, penetrating and lethal action of the bullet, as well as to reduce the influence of external conditions on its flight.

Bullet penetration is characterized by its kinetic energy: the depth of penetration of a bullet into an obstacle of a certain density.

When firing from AK74 and RPK74, a bullet with a steel core of 5.45 mm cartridge pierces:

o steel sheets with thickness:

2 mm at a distance of up to 950 m;

3 mm - up to 670 m;

5 mm - up to 350 m;

o steel helmet (helmet) - up to 800 m;

o earthen barrier 20-25 cm - up to 400 m;

o pine beams 20 cm thick - up to 650 m;

o brickwork 10-12 cm - up to 100 m.

Bullet lethality characterized by its energy (live force of impact) at the moment of meeting with the target.

Bullet energy is measured in kilogram-force-meters (1 kgf m is the energy required to do the work of lifting 1 kg to a height of 1 m). To inflict damage on a person, an energy equal to 8 kgf m is needed, to inflict the same defeat on an animal - about 20 kgf m. The bullet energy of the AK74 at 100 m is 111 kgf m, and at 1000 m it is 12 kgf m; the lethal effect of the bullet is maintained up to a range of 1350 m.

The value of the muzzle velocity of a bullet depends on the length of the barrel, the mass of the bullet and the properties of the powder. The longer the barrel, the longer the powder gases act on the bullet and the greater the initial velocity. With a constant barrel length and a constant mass of the powder charge, the initial velocity is greater, the smaller the mass of the bullet.

Some types of small arms, especially short-barreled ones (for example, the Makarov pistol), do not have a second period, because. complete combustion of the powder charge by the time the bullet leaves the bore does not occur.

The third period (the period of aftereffect of gases) lasts from the moment the bullet leaves the bore until the moment the action of the powder gases on the bullet ceases. During this period, powder gases flowing out of the bore at a speed of 1200-2000 m/s continue to act on the bullet and give it additional speed. The bullet reaches its greatest (maximum) speed at the end of the third period at a distance of several tens of centimeters from the muzzle of the barrel.

Hot powder gases flowing from the barrel after the bullet, when they meet with air, cause a shock wave, which is the source of the sound of the shot. The mixing of hot powder gases (among which there are oxides of carbon and hydrogen) with atmospheric oxygen causes a flash, observed as a shot flame.

The pressure of the powder gases acting on the bullet ensures that it is given translational speed, as well as rotational speed. The pressure acting in the opposite direction (on the bottom of the sleeve) creates a recoil force. The movement of a weapon under the influence of recoil force is called bestowal. When shooting from small arms, the recoil force is felt in the form of a push to the shoulder, arm, acts on the installation or the ground. The recoil energy is greater, the more powerful the weapon. For hand-held small arms, the recoil usually does not exceed 2 kg / m and is perceived by the shooter painlessly.

Rice. 1. Throwing the muzzle of the weapon barrel up when fired

as a result of the action of recoil.

The recoil action of a weapon is characterized by the amount of speed and energy that it has when moving backward. The recoil speed of the weapon is about as many times less than the initial speed of the bullet, how many times the bullet is lighter than the weapon.

When firing from an automatic weapon, the device of which is based on the principle of using recoil energy, part of it is spent on communicating movement to moving parts and reloading the weapon. Therefore, the recoil energy when fired from such a weapon is less than when fired from non-automatic weapons or from automatic weapons, the device of which is based on the principle of using the energy of powder gases discharged through holes in the barrel wall.

The pressure force of powder gases (recoil force) and the recoil resistance force (butt stop, handles, weapon center of gravity, etc.) are not located on the same straight line and are directed in opposite directions. The resulting dynamic pair of forces leads to the angular displacement of the weapon. Deviations can also occur due to the influence of the action of small arms automation and the dynamic bending of the barrel as the bullet moves along it. These reasons lead to the formation of an angle between the direction of the axis of the bore before the shot and its direction at the moment the bullet leaves the bore - departure angle. The magnitude of the deviation of the muzzle of the barrel of a given weapon is the greater, the greater the shoulder of this pair of forces.

In addition, when fired, the barrel of the weapon makes an oscillatory movement - it vibrates. As a result of vibration, the muzzle of the barrel at the moment the bullet takes off can also deviate from its original position in any direction (up, down, right, left). The value of this deviation increases with improper use of the firing stop, contamination of the weapon, etc. The departure angle is considered positive when the axis of the bore at the time of the bullet's departure is higher than its position before the shot, negative when it is lower. The value of the departure angle is given in the firing tables.

The influence of the departure angle on firing for each weapon is eliminated when bringing him to a normal fight (see 5.45mm Kalashnikov manual... - Chapter 7). However, in case of violation of the rules for laying the weapon, using the stop, as well as the rules for caring for the weapon and saving it, the value of the launch angle and the weapon's combat change.

In order to reduce the harmful effect of recoil on the results, in some samples of small arms (for example, the Kalashnikov assault rifle), special devices are used - compensators.

Muzzle brake-compressor is a special device on the muzzle of the barrel, acting on which, the powder gases after the bullet takes off, reduce the recoil speed of the weapon. In addition, the gases flowing out of the bore, hitting the walls of the compensator, somewhat lower the muzzle of the barrel to the left and down.

In the AK74, the muzzle brake compensator reduces recoil by 20%.

1.2. external ballistics. Bullet flight path

External ballistics is a science that studies the movement of a bullet in the air (i.e. after the cessation of the action of powder gases on it).

Having flown out of the bore under the action of powder gases, the bullet moves by inertia. In order to determine how the bullet moves, it is necessary to consider the trajectory of its movement. trajectory called the curved line described by the center of gravity of the bullet during flight.

A bullet flying through the air is subjected to two forces: gravity and air resistance. The force of gravity causes it to gradually decrease, and the force of air resistance continuously slows down the movement of the bullet and tends to overturn it. As a result of the action of these forces, the bullet's flight speed gradually decreases, and its trajectory is an unevenly curved curve in shape.

The resistance of air to the flight of a bullet is caused by the fact that air is an elastic medium, therefore, part of the energy of the bullet is expended in this medium, which is caused by three main reasons:

Air friction

The formation of swirls

formation of a ballistic wave.

The resultant of these forces is the air resistance force.

Rice. 2. Formation of air resistance force.

Rice. 3. The action of the force of air resistance on the flight of a bullet:

CG - center of gravity; CS is the center of air resistance.

Air particles in contact with a moving bullet create friction and reduce the speed of the bullet. The air layer adjacent to the surface of the bullet, in which the movement of particles changes depending on the speed, is called the boundary layer. This layer of air, flowing around the bullet, breaks away from its surface and does not have time to immediately close behind the bottom.

A discharged space is formed behind the bottom of the bullet, as a result of which a pressure difference appears on the head and bottom parts. This difference creates a force directed in the direction opposite to the movement of the bullet, and reduces the speed of its flight. Air particles, trying to fill the rarefaction formed behind the bullet, create a vortex.

The bullet collides with air particles during flight and causes them to oscillate. As a result, the air density increases in front of the bullet and a sound wave is formed. Therefore, the flight of a bullet is accompanied by a characteristic sound. When the speed of the bullet is less than the speed of sound, the formation of these waves has little effect on its flight, because. The waves travel faster than the speed of the bullet. When the speed of the bullet is higher than the speed of sound, a wave of highly compacted air is created from the incursion of sound waves against each other - a ballistic wave that slows down the speed of the bullet, because. the bullet spends some of its energy creating this wave.

The effect of the force of air resistance on the flight of a bullet is very large: it causes a decrease in speed and range. For example, a bullet at an initial speed of 800 m/s in airless space would fly to a distance of 32,620 m; the flight range of this bullet in the presence of air resistance is only 3900 m.

The magnitude of the air resistance force mainly depends on:

§ bullet speed;

§ the shape and caliber of the bullet;

§ from the surface of the bullet;

§ air density

and increases with an increase in the speed of the bullet, its caliber and air density.

At supersonic bullet speeds, when the main cause of air resistance is the formation of air compaction in front of the head (ballistic wave), bullets with an elongated pointed head are advantageous.

Thus, the force of air resistance reduces the speed of the bullet and overturns it. As a result of this, the bullet begins to “tumble”, the air resistance force increases, the flight range decreases and its effect on the target decreases.

The stabilization of the bullet in flight is ensured by giving the bullet a rapid rotational movement around its axis, as well as by the tail of the grenade. The rotation speed when taking off from a rifled weapon is: bullets 3000-3500 rpm, turning of feathered grenades 10-15 rpm. Due to the rotational movement of the bullet, the impact of air resistance and gravity, the bullet deviates to the right side from the vertical plane drawn through the axis of the bore, - firing plane. The deviation of a bullet from it when flying in the direction of rotation is called derivation.

Rice. 4. Derivation (view of the trajectory from above).

As a result of the action of these forces, the bullet flies in space along an unevenly curved curve called trajectory.

Let's continue consideration of elements and definitions of a trajectory of a bullet.

Rice. 5. Trajectory elements.

The center of the muzzle of a barrel is called departure point. The departure point is the start of the trajectory.

The horizontal plane passing through the departure point is called weapon horizon. In the drawings depicting the weapon and the trajectory from the side, the horizon of the weapon appears as a horizontal line. The trajectory crosses the horizon of the weapon twice: at the point of departure and at the point of impact.

pointed weapons , is called elevation line.

The vertical plane passing through the line of elevation is called shooting plane.

The angle enclosed between the line of elevation and the horizon of the weapon is called elevation angle. If this angle is negative, then it is called angle of declination (decrease).

A straight line that is a continuation of the axis of the bore at the time of the bullet's departure , is called throw line.

The angle enclosed between the line of throw and the horizon of the weapon is called throw angle.

The angle enclosed between the line of elevation and the line of throw is called departure angle.

The point of intersection of the trajectory with the horizon of the weapon is called drop point.

The angle enclosed between the tangent to the trajectory at the point of impact and the horizon of the weapon is called angle of incidence.

The distance from the point of departure to the point of impact is called full horizontal range.

The speed of the bullet at the point of impact is called final speed.

The time it takes for a bullet to travel from point of departure to point of impact is called total flight time.

The highest point of the trajectory is called the top of the path.

The shortest distance from the top of the trajectory to the horizon of the weapon is called path height.

The part of the trajectory from the departure point to the top is called ascending branch, the part of the trajectory from the top to the point of fall is called descending branch of the trajectory.

The point on the target (or outside it) at which the weapon is aimed is called aiming point (TP).

The straight line from the shooter's eye to the aiming point is called aiming line.

The distance from the departure point to the intersection of the trajectory with the aiming line is called target range.

The angle enclosed between the line of elevation and the line of sight is called aiming angle.

The angle enclosed between the line of sight and the horizon of the weapon is called target elevation angle.

The line joining the departure point with the target is called target line.

The distance from the departure point to the target along the target line is called slant range. When firing direct fire, the target line practically coincides with the aiming line, and the slant range - with the aiming range.

The point of intersection of the trajectory with the surface of the target (ground, obstacles) is called meeting point.

The angle enclosed between the tangent to the trajectory and the tangent to the surface of the target (ground, obstacles) at the meeting point is called meeting angle.

The shape of the trajectory depends on the magnitude of the elevation angle. As the elevation angle increases, the height of the trajectory and the total horizontal range of the bullet increases. But this happens to a certain limit. Beyond this limit, the trajectory height continues to increase and the total horizontal range begins to decrease.

The angle of elevation at which the full horizontal range of the bullet is greatest is called farthest angle(the value of this angle is about 35°).

There are flat and mounted trajectories:

1. flat- called the trajectory obtained at elevation angles smaller than the angle of greatest range.

2. hinged- called the trajectory obtained at elevation angles of a large angle of greatest range.

Flat and hinged trajectories obtained by firing from the same weapon at the same initial speed and having the same total horizontal range are called - conjugate.

Rice. 6. Angle of greatest range,

flat, hinged and conjugate trajectories.

The trajectory is flatter if it rises less above the line of the target, and the smaller the angle of incidence. The flatness of the trajectory affects the value of the range of a direct shot, as well as the amount of affected and dead space.

When firing from small arms and grenade launchers, only flat trajectories are used. The flatter the trajectory, the greater the extent of the terrain the target can be hit with one sight setting (the less impact on the results of shooting has an error in determining the setting of the sight): this is the practical significance of the trajectory.

Ballistics is the science of motion, flight, and the effects of projectiles. It is divided into several disciplines. Internal and external ballistics deal with the movement and flight of projectiles. The transition between these two modes is called intermediate ballistics. Terminal ballistics refers to the impact of projectiles, a separate category covers the degree of damage to the target. What does internal and external ballistics study?

Guns and missiles

Cannon and rocket engines are types of heat propulsion, partly with the conversion of chemical energy into apropellant (the kinetic energy of a projectile). Propellants differ from conventional fuels in that their combustion does not require atmospheric oxygen. To a limited extent, the production of hot gases with combustible fuel causes an increase in pressure. The pressure propels the projectile and increases the burning rate. Hot gases tend to erode the barrel of a gun or the throat of a rocket. Small arms internal and external ballistics studies the movement, flight, and impact that the projectile has.

When the propellant charge in the gun chamber is ignited, the combustion gases are held back by the shot, so the pressure builds up. The projectile begins to move when the pressure on it overcomes its resistance to movement. The pressure continues to rise for a while and then drops as the shot accelerates to high speed. Fast combustible rocket fuel is soon exhausted, and over time, the shot is ejected from the muzzle: a shot speed of up to 15 kilometers per second has been achieved. Folding cannons release gas through the back of the chamber to counteract recoil forces.

A ballistic missile is a missile that is guided during a relatively short initial active phase of flight, whose trajectory is subsequently governed by the laws of classical mechanics, unlike, for example, cruise missiles, which are aerodynamically guided in flight with the engine running.

Shot trajectory

Projectiles and launchers

A projectile is any object projected into space (empty or not) when a force is applied. Although any object in motion through space (such as a thrown ball) is a projectile, the term most often refers to a ranged weapon. Mathematical equations of motion are used to analyze the projectile's trajectory. Examples of projectiles include balls, arrows, bullets, artillery shells, rockets, and so on.

A throw is the launching of a projectile by hand. Humans are unusually good at throwing due to their high agility, this is a highly developed trait. Evidence of human throwing dates back 2 million years. The throwing speed of 145 km per hour found in many athletes far exceeds the speed at which chimpanzees can throw objects, which is about 32 km per hour. This ability reflects the ability of human shoulder muscles and tendons to remain elastic until needed to propel an object.

Internal and external ballistics: briefly about the types of weapons

Some of the most ancient launchers were ordinary slingshots, bows and arrows, and a catapult. Over time, guns, pistols, rockets appeared. Information from internal and external ballistics includes information about various types of weapons.

  • Spling is a weapon commonly used to eject blunt projectiles such as rock, clay, or a lead "bullet". The sling has a small cradle (bag) in the middle of the connected two lengths of cord. The stone is placed in a bag. The middle finger or thumb is placed through the loop at the end of one cord, and the tab at the end of the other cord is placed between the thumb and forefinger. The sling swings in an arc, and the tab is released at a certain moment. This frees the projectile to fly towards the target.
  • Bow and arrows. A bow is a flexible piece of material that fires aerodynamic projectiles. The string connects the two ends, and when it is pulled back, the ends of the stick are bent. When the string is released, the potential energy of the bent stick is converted into the speed of the arrow. Archery is the art or sport of archery.
  • A catapult is a device used to launch a projectile at a great distance without the aid of explosive devices - especially various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. The catapult has been used since ancient times as it proved to be one of the most efficient mechanisms during war. The word "catapult" comes from the Latin, which, in turn, comes from the Greek καταπέλτης, which means "throw, hurl". Catapults were invented by the ancient Greeks.
  • A pistol is a conventional tubular weapon or other device designed to release projectiles or other material. The projectile may be solid, liquid, gaseous, or energetic, and may be loose, as with bullets and artillery shells, or with clamps, as with probes and whaling harpoons. The projection means varies according to the design, but is usually carried out by the action of gas pressure generated by the rapid combustion of the propellant, or compressed and stored by mechanical means operating inside a piston-like tube with an open end. The condensed gas accelerates the moving projectile along the length of the tube, imparting sufficient velocity to keep the projectile moving when the gas stops at the end of the tube. Alternatively, acceleration by electromagnetic field generation can be used, in which case the tube can be discarded and the guide replaced.
  • A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft, or other vehicle that is hit by a rocket engine. The exhaust of a rocket engine is completely formed from the propellants carried in the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction. Rocket engines push rockets forward by simply throwing their exhausts back very quickly. Although they are comparatively inefficient for low speed use, rockets are relatively light and powerful, capable of generating high accelerations and reaching extremely high speeds with reasonable efficiency. Rockets are independent of the atmosphere and work great in space. Chemical rockets are the most common type of high-performance rocket, and they typically create their exhaust gases when the propellant is burned. Chemical rockets store large amounts of energy in an easily released form and can be very dangerous. However, careful design, testing, construction and use will minimize risks.

Fundamentals of external and internal ballistics: main categories

Ballistics can be studied using high speed photography or high speed cameras. A photograph of a shot taken with an ultra-high speed air gap flash helps to view the bullet without blurring the image. Ballistics is often broken down into the following four categories:

  • Internal ballistics - the study of processes that initially accelerate projectiles.
  • Transition ballistics - study of projectiles during the transition to cashless flight.
  • External ballistics - study of the passage of a projectile (trajectory) in flight.
  • Terminal ballistics - examining the projectile and its effects as it is completed

Internal ballistics is the study of movement in the form of a projectile. In guns, it covers the time from propellant ignition until the projectile exits the gun barrel. This is what internal ballistics studies. This is important for designers and users of firearms of all types, from rifles and pistols to high-tech artillery. Information from internal ballistics for rocket projectiles covers the period during which the rocket engine provides thrust.

Transient ballistics, also known as intermediate ballistics, is the study of the behavior of a projectile from the moment it leaves the muzzle until the pressure behind the projectile is balanced, so it falls between the concept of internal and external ballistics.

External ballistics studies the atmospheric pressure dynamics around a bullet and is the part of the science of ballistics that deals with the behavior of an unpowered projectile in flight. This category is often associated with firearms and is associated with the idle free-flight phase of the bullet after it leaves the barrel of the gun and before it hits the target, so it sits between transition ballistics and terminal ballistics. However, external ballistics also concerns the free flight of missiles and other projectiles such as balls, arrows, and so on.

Terminal ballistics is the study of the behavior and effects of a projectile as it hits its target. This category has value for both small caliber projectiles and large caliber projectiles (artillery shooting). The study of extremely high velocity effects is still very new and is currently applied mainly to spacecraft design.

Forensic ballistics

Forensic ballistics involves the analysis of bullets and bullet impacts to determine usage information in a court of law or other part of the legal system. Separate from ballistics information, the Firearms and Tool Mark (“Ballistic Fingerprint”) exams involve reviewing evidence of firearms, ammunition, and tools to determine if any firearm or tool was used in the commission of a crime.

Astrodynamics: orbital mechanics

Astrodynamics is the application of weapon ballistics, external and internal, and orbital mechanics to the practical problems of propulsion of rockets and other spacecraft. The motion of these objects is usually calculated from Newton's laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation. It is the core discipline in space mission design and control.

Travel of a projectile in flight

The fundamentals of external and internal ballistics deal with the travel of a projectile in flight. The path of a bullet includes: down the barrel, through the air, and through the target. The basics of internal ballistics (or original, inside a cannon) vary according to the type of weapon. Bullets fired from a rifle will have more energy than similar bullets fired from a pistol. More powder can also be used in gun cartridges because bullet chambers can be designed to withstand more pressure.

Higher pressures require a larger gun with more recoil, which loads more slowly and generates more heat, resulting in more metal wear. In practice, it is difficult to measure the forces inside the gun barrel, but one easily measured parameter is the speed at which the bullet exits the barrel (muzzle velocity). The controlled expansion of gases from burning gunpowder creates pressure (force/area). This is where the bullet base (equivalent to barrel diameter) is located and is constant. Therefore, the energy transferred to the bullet (with a given mass) will depend on the mass time times the time interval over which the force is applied.

The last of these factors is a function of barrel length. Bullet movement through a machine gun is characterized by an increase in acceleration as expanding gases press against it, but a reduction in barrel pressure as the gas expands. Up to the point of decreasing pressure, the longer the barrel, the greater the acceleration of the bullet. As the bullet travels down the barrel of a gun, there is a slight deformation. This is due to minor (rarely major) imperfections or variations in the rifling or marks in the barrel. The main task of internal ballistics is to create favorable conditions for avoiding such situations. The effect on the subsequent trajectory of the bullet is usually negligible.

From gun to target

External ballistics can be briefly called the journey from gun to target. Bullets usually do not travel in a straight line to the target. There are rotational forces that keep the bullet from a straight axis of flight. The basics of external ballistics include the concept of precession, which refers to the rotation of a bullet around its center of mass. Nutation is a small circular motion at the tip of a bullet. Acceleration and precession decrease as the bullet's distance from the barrel increases.

One of the tasks of external ballistics is the creation of an ideal bullet. To reduce air resistance, the ideal bullet would be a long, heavy needle, but such a projectile would go straight through the target without dissipating most of its energy. The spheres will lag behind and release more energy, but may not even hit the target. A good aerodynamic compromise bullet shape is a parabolic curve with a low frontal area and branching shape.

The best bullet composition is lead, which has a high density and is cheap to produce. Its disadvantages are that it tends to soften at >1000 fps, causing it to lubricate the barrel and reduce accuracy, and lead tends to melt completely. Alloying the lead (Pb) with a small amount of antimony (Sb) helps, but the real answer is to bond the lead bullet to a hard steel barrel through another metal soft enough to seal the bullet in the barrel, but with a high melting point. Copper (Cu) is best suited for this material as a jacket for lead.

Terminal ballistics (target hitting)

The short, high-velocity bullet begins to growl, turn, and even spin violently as it enters the tissue. This causes more tissue to be displaced, increasing drag and imparting most of the target's kinetic energy. A longer, heavier bullet may have more energy over a wider range when it hits the target, but it can penetrate so well that it exits the target with most of its energy. Even a bullet with low kinetics can cause significant tissue damage. Bullets produce tissue damage in three ways:

  1. Destruction and crushing. Tissue crush injury diameter is the diameter of the bullet or fragment, up to the length of the axis.
  2. Cavitation - A "permanent" cavity is caused by the trajectory (track) of the bullet itself with tissue crushing, whereas a "temporary" cavity is formed by radial stretching around the bullet track from the continuous acceleration of the medium (air or tissue) resulting from the bullet, causing the wound cavity to stretch outward. For projectiles moving at low speed, the permanent and temporary cavities are almost the same, but at high speed and with bullet yaw, the temporary cavity becomes larger.
  3. shock waves. The shock waves compress the medium and move ahead of the bullet as well as to the sides, but these waves last only a few microseconds and do not cause deep damage at low speed. At high speed, the generated shock waves can reach up to 200 atmospheres of pressure. However, bone fracture due to cavitation is an extremely rare event. The ballistic pressure wave from a long-range bullet impact can cause a person to concussion, which causes acute neurological symptoms.

Experimental methods to demonstrate tissue damage have used materials with characteristics similar to human soft tissue and skin.

bullet design

Bullet design is important in injury potential. The 1899 Hague Convention (and subsequently the Geneva Convention) prohibited the use of expanding, deformable bullets in wartime. This is why military bullets have a metal jacket around the lead core. Of course, the treaty had less to do with compliance than the fact that modern military assault rifles fire projectiles at high velocities and bullets must be copper-jacketed as lead begins to melt due to the heat generated at >2000 fps per give me a sec.

The external and internal ballistics of the PM (Makarov pistol) differ from the ballistics of the so-called "destructible" bullets, designed to break when hitting a hard surface. Such bullets are usually made from a metal other than lead, such as copper powder, compacted into a bullet. Target distance from the muzzle plays a large role in wounding ability, as most bullets fired from handguns have lost significant kinetic energy (KE) at 100 yards, while high velocity military guns still have significant KE even at 500 yards. Thus, the external and internal ballistics of the PM and military and hunting rifles designed to deliver bullets with a large number of EC over a longer distance will differ.

Designing a bullet to transfer energy efficiently to a specific target is not easy because the targets are different. The concept of internal and external ballistics also includes projectile design. To penetrate the elephant's thick hide and tough bone, the bullet must be small in diameter and strong enough to resist disintegration. However, such a bullet penetrates most tissues like a spear, dealing slightly more damage than a knife wound. A bullet designed to damage human tissue will require certain "brakes" in order for the entire CE to be transmitted to the target.

It is easier to design features that help slow a large, slow moving bullet through tissue than a small, high speed bullet. Such measures include shape modifications such as round, flattened or domed. Round nose bullets provide the least drag, are usually sheathed, and are primarily useful in low-velocity pistols. The flattened design provides the most form-only drag, is not sheathed, and is used in low-velocity pistols (often for target practice). The dome design is intermediate between a round tool and a cutting tool and is useful at medium speed.

The design of the hollow point bullet makes it easier to turn the bullet "inside out" and flatten the front, referred to as "expansion". Expansion only reliably occurs at speeds in excess of 1200 fps, so it is only suitable for guns with maximum speed. A frangible powder bullet designed to disintegrate on impact, delivering all of the CE but without significant penetration, the size of the fragments must decrease as the impact velocity increases.

Injury potential

The type of tissue influences the injury potential as well as the depth of penetration. Specific gravity (density) and elasticity are the main tissue factors. The higher the specific gravity, the greater the damage. The more elasticity, the less damage. Thus, light tissue with low density and high elasticity is damaged less muscle with higher density, but with some elasticity.

The liver, spleen and brain do not have elasticity and are easily injured, as is adipose tissue. Fluid-filled organs (bladder, heart, large vessels, intestines) can burst due to the pressure waves created. A bullet hitting bone can result in bone fragmentation and/or multiple secondary missiles, each causing an additional wound.

Pistol ballistics

This weapon is easy to hide, but difficult to aim accurately, especially at crime scenes. Most small arms fires occur at less than 7 yards, but even so, most bullets miss their intended target (only 11% of attackers' rounds and 25% of police-fired bullets hit their intended target in one study). Usually low caliber guns are used in crime because they are cheaper and easier to carry and easier to control while shooting.

Tissue destruction can be increased by any caliber using an expanding hollow point bullet. The two main variables in handgun ballistics are the bullet diameter and the volume of powder in the cartridge case. Older design cartridges were limited by the pressures they could handle, but advances in metallurgy allowed the maximum pressure to be doubled and tripled so that more kinetic energy could be generated.

initial speed- called the speed of the bullet at the muzzle of the barrel.

For the initial speed, the conditional speed is taken, which is slightly more than the muzzle and less than the maximum. It is determined empirically with subsequent calculations. The value of the initial velocity of the bullet is indicated in the firing tables and in the combat characteristics of the weapon.

The initial speed is one of the most important characteristics of the combat properties of weapons. With an increase in the initial speed, the range of the bullet, the range of a direct shot, the lethal and penetrating effect of the bullet increases, and the influence of external conditions on its flight also decreases.

The value of the muzzle velocity depends on the length of the barrel; bullet mass; mass, temperature and humidity of the powder charge, shape and size of powder grains and loading density.

The longer the barrel, the longer the powder gases act on the bullet and the greater the initial velocity.

With a constant barrel length and a constant mass of the powder charge, the initial velocity is greater, the smaller the mass of the bullet.

A change in the mass of the powder charge leads to a change in the amount of powder gases, and, consequently, to a change in the maximum pressure in the bore and the initial velocity of the bullet. The greater the mass of the powder charge, the greater the maximum pressure and muzzle velocity of the bullet.

The length of the barrel and the mass of the powder charge increase during the design of weapons to the most rational sizes.

With an increase in the temperature of the powder charge, the burning rate of the powder increases, and therefore the maximum pressure and initial speed increase. As the charge temperature decreases, the initial speed decreases. An increase (decrease) in initial velocity causes an increase (decrease) in the range of the bullet. In this regard, it is necessary to take into account range corrections for air and charge temperature (charge temperature is approximately equal to air temperature).

With an increase in the humidity of the powder charge, its burning rate and the initial speed of the bullet decrease.

The shape and size of the powder have a significant impact on the burning rate of the powder charge, and hence on the muzzle velocity of the bullet. They are selected accordingly when designing weapons.

Hot powder gases flowing from the barrel after the projectile, when they meet with air, cause a shock wave, which is the source of the sound of the shot. The mixing of hot powder gases with atmospheric oxygen causes a flash observed as a shot flame.

Internal and external ballistics.

Like any science, ballistics has grown on the basis of human practical activity. Already in primitive society, in connection with the needs of hunting, people accumulated a whole range of knowledge about throwing stones, spears and darts. The highest achievement of that period was the boomerang, a relatively complex weapon that, after being thrown, either hit the target or, in case of a miss, returned back to the hunter. Starting from the period when hunting ceased to be the main means of obtaining food, the issues of throwing certain "shells" began to develop in connection with the needs of warfare. This period includes the appearance of catapults and ballistas. Ballistics, as a science, received its main development as a result of the appearance of firearms, relying on the achievements of a number of other sciences - physics, chemistry, mathematics, meteorology, aerodynamics, etc.

Currently, ballistics can be distinguished: ∙ internal, studying the movement of a projectile under the action of powder gases, as well as all the phenomena that accompany this movement; ∙ external, studying the movement of a projectile after the action of powder gases on it ceases.

Internal ballistics studies the phenomena occurring in the bore of a weapon during a shot, the movement of a projectile along the bore and the nature of the increase in the speed of the projectile both inside the bore and during the aftereffect of gases. Internal ballistics deals with the study of the most rational use of the energy of a powder charge during a shot.

The solution to this issue is the main task of internal ballistics: how to impart a certain initial velocity (V 0) to a projectile of a given weight and caliber, provided that the maximum gas pressure in the barrel (R m ) did not exceed the specified value.

The solution of the main problem of internal ballistics is divided into two parts:

    the first task is to derive mathematical dependencies for the combustion of gunpowder;

External ballistics called the science that studies the movement of a projectile after the cessation of the action of powder gases on it .

Having taken off from the bore under the action of powder gases, the projectile moves in the air by inertia. The line described by the center of gravity of the movement of the projectile during its flight is called trajectory. A bullet (grenade) when flying in the air is subject to the action of two forces: gravity and air resistance. The force of gravity causes the bullet (grenade) to gradually lower, and the force of air resistance continuously slows down the movement of the bullet (grenade) and tends to overturn it. As a result of the action of these forces, the flight speed gradually decreases, and the flight path is an unevenly curved curved line.

In order for a bullet (grenade) to reach the target and hit it or the desired point on it, it is necessary to give the axis of the bore a certain position in space (in the horizontal and vertical planes) before firing.

Giving the axis of the bore the required position in the horizontal plane is called horizontal guidance.

Giving the axis of the bore the required position in the vertical plane is called vertical guidance.

Aiming is carried out with the help of aiming devices and aiming mechanisms and is carried out in two stages.

First, a scheme of angles is built on the weapon with the help of sighting devices, corresponding to the distance to the target and corrections for various firing conditions (the first stage of aiming). Then, with the help of guidance mechanisms, the angle scheme built on the weapon is combined with the scheme determined on the ground (the second stage of aiming).

If horizontal and vertical aiming is carried out directly on the target or on an auxiliary point near the target, then such aiming is called straight.

When firing from small arms and grenade launchers, direct fire is used. performed with a single sighting line.

The straight line that connects the middle of the sight slot to the top of the front sight is called the aiming line.

To carry out aiming using an open sight, it is necessary first, by moving the rear sight (slot of the sight), to give the aiming line such a position in which between this line and the axis of the barrel bore, an aiming angle corresponding to the distance to the target is formed in the vertical plane, and in the horizontal plane an angle equal to lateral correction, depending on the speed of the crosswind or the speed of the lateral movement of the target. Then, by directing the sighting line at the target (changing the position of the barrel with the help of pickup mechanisms or by moving the weapon itself, if there are no pickup mechanisms), give the axis of the bore the necessary position in space. In weapons with a permanent rear sight (for example, a Makarov pistol), the required position of the axis of the bore in the vertical plane is given by choosing the aiming point corresponding to the distance to the target, and directing the aiming line to this point. In a weapon that has a sight slot that is fixed in the lateral direction (for example, a Kalashnikov assault rifle), the required position of the bore axis in the horizontal plane is given by selecting the aiming point corresponding to the lateral correction and directing the aiming line into it.

Aiming (aiming) using an open sight:

(If necessary, answer questions)Question #2.

From muzzle to target: basic concepts every shooter should know.

You don't need a university degree in math or physics to understand how a rifle bullet flies. In this exaggerated illustration, it can be seen that the bullet, always deviating only downward from the direction of the shot, crosses the line of sight at two points. The second of these points is exactly at the distance at which the rifle is sighted.

One of the most successful recent projects in book publishing is a series of books called "...for dummies." Whatever knowledge or skill you want to master, there is always a proper "dummies" book for you, including such subjects as raising smart children for dummies (honestly!) and aromatherapy for dummies. It is interesting, however, that these books are not written for fools at all and do not treat the subject at a simplistic level. In fact, one of the best wine books I read was called Wine for Dummies.

So probably no one will be surprised if I say that there should be “Ballistics for Dummies”. I hope that you will agree to take this title with the same sense of humor with which I offer it to you.

What do you need to know about ballistics - if anything at all - in order to become a better marksman and a more prolific hunter? Ballistics is divided into three sections: internal, external and terminal.

Internal ballistics considers what happens inside the rifle from the moment of ignition to the exit of the bullet through the muzzle. In truth, internal ballistics only concerns reloaders, it is they who assemble the cartridge and thereby determine its internal ballistics. You have to be a real teapot to start collecting cartridges without having previously received elementary ideas about internal ballistics, if only because your safety depends on it. If, on the shooting range and hunting, you shoot only factory cartridges, then you really don’t need to know anything about what is happening in the bore: you still cannot influence these processes in any way. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advising anyone to go deeper into internal ballistics. It just doesn't really matter in that context.

As for terminal ballistics, yes, we have some freedom here, but no more than in choosing a bullet loaded in a homemade or factory cartridge. Terminal ballistics begins the moment the bullet hits the target. This is a science as much qualitative as it is quantitative, because there are a great many factors that determine lethality, and not all of them can be accurately modeled in the laboratory.

What remains is external ballistics. It's just a fancy term for what happens to a bullet from muzzle to target. We will consider this subject at an elementary level, I myself do not know the subtleties. I must confess to you that I passed mathematics in college on the third run, and flunked physics in general, so believe me, what I will talk about is not difficult.

These 154-grain (10g) 7mm bullets have the same TD at 0.273, but the left flat-faced bullet has a BC of 0.433 while the SST on the right has a BC of 0.530.

To understand what happens with a bullet from muzzle to target, at least as much as we hunters need, we need to learn some definitions and basic concepts, just to put everything in its place.

Definitions

Line of sight (LL)- a straight arrow from the eye through the aiming mark (or through the rear sight and front sight) to infinity.

Throwing line (LB)- another straight line, the direction of the axis of the bore at the time of the shot.

Trajectory- the line along which the bullet moves.

The fall- decrease in the trajectory of the bullet relative to the line of throw.

We've all heard someone say that a certain rifle shoots so flat that the bullet just doesn't drop in the first hundred yards. Nonsense. Even with the flattest supermagnums, from the very moment of departure, the bullet begins to fall and deviate from the throwing line. A common misunderstanding stems from the use of the word "rise" in ballistic tables. The bullet always falls, but it also rises relative to the line of sight. This seeming awkwardness comes from the fact that the sight is positioned above the barrel, and therefore the only way to cross the line of sight with the bullet's trajectory is to tilt the sight down. In other words, if the line of throw and the line of sight were parallel, the bullet would fly out of the muzzle one and a half inches (38mm) below the line of sight and begin to fall lower and lower.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that when the sight is set so that the line of sight intersects with the trajectory at some reasonable distance - at 100, 200 or 300 yards (91.5, 183, 274m), the bullet will cross the line of sight even before that. Whether we are shooting a 45-70 zeroed at 100 yards, or a 7mm Ultra Mag zeroed at 300, the first intersection of trajectory and line of sight will occur between 20 and 40 yards from the muzzle.

Both of these 375 caliber 300-grain bullets have the same cross-sectional density of 0.305, but the left-hand one, with a sharp nose and "boat stern", has a BC of 0.493, while the round one has only 0.250.

In the case of 45-70 we will see that in order to hit the target at 100 (91.4m) yards, our bullet will cross the line of sight about 20 yards (18.3m) from the muzzle. Further, the bullet will rise above the line of sight to the highest point in the region of 55 yards (50.3m) - about two and a half inches (64mm). At this point, the bullet begins to descend relative to the line of sight, so that the two lines will again intersect at the desired distance of 100 yards.

For a 7mm Ultra Mag shot at 300 yards (274m), the first intersection will be around 40 yards (37m). Between this point and the 300 yard mark, our trajectory will reach a maximum height of three and a half inches (89mm) above the line of sight. Thus, the trajectory crosses the line of sight at two points, the second of which is the sighting distance.

Trajectory at half way

And now I will touch on a concept that is little used today, although in those years when I began to master rifle shooting as a young fool, the trajectory at halfway was the criterion by which ballistic tables compared the effectiveness of cartridges. Half-way trajectory (TPP) is the maximum height of the bullet above the line of sight, provided that the weapon is sighted to zero at a given distance. Usually ballistic tables gave this value for 100-, 200-, and 300-yard ranges. For example, the TPP for a 150 grain (9.7g) bullet in the 7mm Remington Mag cartridge according to the 1964 Remington catalog was half an inch (13mm) at 100 yards (91.5m), 1.8 inches (46mm) at 200 yards (183m) and 4.7 inches (120mm) at 300 yards (274m). This meant that if we zeroed our 7 Mag at 100 yards, the trajectory at 50 yards would rise above the line of sight by half an inch. When zeroing in at 200 yards at 100 yards, it will rise 1.8 inches, and when zeroing in at 300 yards, it will rise 4.7 inches at 150 yards. In fact, the maximum ordinate is reached a little further than the middle of the sighting distance - about 55, 110 and 165 yards, respectively - but in practice the difference is not significant.

Although the TPP was useful information and a good way to compare different cartridges and loads, the modern reference system for the same distance zeroing height or bullet drop at different points in the trajectory is more meaningful.

Cross density, ballistic coefficient

After leaving the barrel, the trajectory of the bullet is determined by its speed, shape and weight. This brings us to two sonorous terms: transverse density and ballistic coefficient. Cross-sectional density is the weight of the bullet in pounds divided by the square of its diameter in inches. But forget it, it's just a way to relate the weight of a bullet to its caliber. Take, for example, a 100 grain (6.5g) bullet: in 7mm (.284) it's a fairly light bullet, but in 6mm (.243) it's quite heavy. And in terms of cross-sectional density, it looks like this: a 100-grain seven-millimeter caliber bullet has a cross-sectional density of 0.177, and a six-millimeter bullet of the same weight will have a cross-sectional density of 0.242.

This quartet of 7mm bullets show consistent degrees of streamlining. The round nose bullet on the left has a ballistic coefficient of 0.273, the bullet on the right, the Hornady A-Max, has a ballistic coefficient of 0.623, i.e. more than twice as many.

Perhaps the best understanding of what is considered light and what is heavy can be gained from comparing bullets of the same caliber. While the lightest 7mm bullet has a transverse density of 0.177, the heaviest 175 grain (11.3g) bullet has a transverse density of 0.310. And the lightest, 55-grain (3.6g), six-millimeter bullet has a transverse density of 0.133.

Since lateral density is related only to weight and not to bullet shape, it turns out that the most blunt bullets have the same lateral density as the most streamlined bullets of the same weight and caliber. Ballistic coefficient is another matter entirely, it is a measure of how streamlined a bullet is, that is, how effectively it overcomes resistance in flight. The calculation of the ballistic coefficient is not well defined, there are several methods that often give inconsistent results. Adds uncertainty and the fact that BC depends on speed and height above sea level.

Unless you're a math geek obsessed with calculations for the sake of calculations, then I suggest you just do it like everyone else: use the value provided by the bullet manufacturer. All do-it-yourself-loading bullet manufacturers publish cross-sectional density and ballistic coefficient values ​​for each bullet. But for bullets used in factory cartridges, only Remington and Hornady do this. Meanwhile, this is useful information, and I think that all cartridge manufacturers should report it both in ballistic tables and directly on the boxes. Why? Because if you have ballistic programs on your computer, then all you need to do is enter muzzle velocity, bullet weight and ballistic coefficient, and you can draw a trajectory for any sighting distance.

An experienced reloader can estimate the ballistic coefficient of any rifle bullet with decent accuracy by eye. For example, no round nose bullet, from 6mm to .458 (11.6mm), has a ballistic coefficient greater than 0.300. From 0.300 to 0.400 - these are light (with a low transverse density) hunting bullets, pointed or with a recess in the nose. Over .400 are moderately heavy bullets for this caliber with an extremely streamlined nose.

If a hunting bullet has a BC close to 0.500, it means that this bullet has combined near-optimal lateral density and a streamlined shape, such as Hornady's 7mm 162-grain (10.5g) SST with a BC of 0.550 or 180-grain ( 11.7d) Barnes XBT in 30 gauge with a BC of 0.552. This extremely high MC is typical of bullets with a round tail ("boat stern") and a polycarbonate nose, like the SST. Barnes, however, achieves the same result with a very streamlined ogive and an extremely small nose front.

By the way, the ogival part is the part of the bullet in front of the leading cylindrical surface, simply what forms the nose of zeros. When viewed from the side of the bullet, the ogive is formed by arcs or curved lines, but Hornady uses an ogive of converging straight lines, i.e. a cone.

If you put flat-nosed, round-nosed and sharp-nosed bullets side by side, then common sense will tell you that the pointed-nose is more streamlined than the round-nosed, and the round-nose, in turn, is more streamlined than the flat-nosed. It follows from this that, other things being equal, at a given distance, the sharp-nosed one will decrease less than the round-nosed one, and the round-nosed one will decrease less than the flat-nosed one. Add a "boat stern" and the bullet becomes even more aerodynamic.

From an aerodynamic point of view, the shape may be good, like a 120 grain (7.8g) 7mm bullet on the left, but due to the low lateral density (i.e. weight for this caliber), it will lose speed much faster. If the 175-grain (11.3g) bullet (right) is fired at 500 fps (152m/s) slower, it will overtake the 120-grain at 500 yards (457m).

Take Barnes' 180-grain (11.7g) X-Bullet 30-gauge, available in both flat-end and boat-tail designs, as an example. The nose profile of these bullets is the same, so the difference in ballistic coefficients is due solely to the shape of the butt. A flat-ended bullet would have a BC of 0.511, while a boat stern would give a BC of 0.552. In percentage terms, you might think that this difference is significant, but in fact, at five hundred yards (457m), the "boat stern" bullet will drop only 0.9 inches (23 mm) less than the flat point bullet, all other things being equal .

direct shot distance

Another way to evaluate trajectories is to determine the direct shot distance (DPV). Just like halfway trajectory, point-blank range has no effect on the actual trajectory of the bullet, it's just another criterion for zeroing in on a rifle based on its trajectory. For deer-sized game, point-blank range is based on the requirement that the bullet hit a 10-inch (25.4 cm) diameter kill zone when aiming at its center without drop compensation.

Basically, it's like taking a perfectly straight 10" imaginary pipe and laying it on a given path. With a muzzle in the center of the pipe at one end of it, the direct shot distance is the maximum length at which the bullet will fly inside this imaginary pipe. Naturally, in the initial section, the trajectory should be directed slightly upwards, so that at the point of the highest ascent, the bullet only touches the upper part of the pipe. With this aiming, the DPV is the distance at which the bullet will pass through the bottom of the pipe.

Consider a 30 caliber bullet fired from a 300 magnum at 3100 fps. According to the Sierra manual, zeroing the rifle at 315 yards (288m) gives us a point-blank range of 375 yards (343m). With the same bullet fired from a .30-06 rifle at 2800 fps, when zeroed in at 285 yards (261m), we get a DPV of 340 yards (311m) - not as much of a difference as it might seem, right?

Most ballistics software calculates point-blank range, you just need to enter bullet weight, ac, speed and kill zone. Naturally, you can enter a four-inch (10cm) kill zone if you are hunting marmots, and an eighteen-inch (46cm) if you are hunting moose. But personally, I have never used DPV, I consider it to be a slipshod shooting. Especially now that we have laser rangefinders, it makes no sense to recommend such an approach.


In which there is no thrust or control force and moment, is called a ballistic trajectory. If the mechanism that drives the object remains operational throughout the entire time of movement, it belongs to a number of aviation or dynamic ones. The trajectory of an aircraft during flight with the engines turned off at high altitude can also be called ballistic.

An object that moves along given coordinates is affected only by the mechanism that sets the body in motion, the forces of resistance and gravity. A set of such factors excludes the possibility of rectilinear motion. This rule works even in space.

The body describes a trajectory that is similar to an ellipse, hyperbola, parabola or circle. The last two options are achieved at the second and first cosmic velocities. Calculations for movement along a parabola or a circle are carried out to determine the trajectory of a ballistic missile.

Taking into account all the parameters during launch and flight (mass, speed, temperature, etc.), the following features of the trajectory are distinguished:

  • In order to launch the rocket as far as possible, you need to choose the right angle. The best is sharp, around 45º.
  • The object has the same initial and final speeds.
  • The body lands at the same angle as it is launched.
  • The time of movement of the object from the start to the middle, as well as from the middle to the finish point, is the same.

Trajectory properties and practical implications

The movement of the body after the influence of the driving force on it ceases to be studied by external ballistics. This science provides calculations, tables, scales, sights and develops the best options for shooting. The ballistic trajectory of a bullet is a curved line that describes the center of gravity of an object in flight.

Since the body is affected by gravity and resistance, the path that the bullet (projectile) describes forms the shape of a curved line. Under the action of the reduced forces, the speed and height of the object gradually decreases. There are several trajectories: flat, hinged and conjugated.

The first is achieved by using an elevation angle that is smaller than the greatest range angle. If for different trajectories the flight range remains the same, such a trajectory can be called conjugate. In the case when the elevation angle is greater than the angle of the greatest range, the path becomes called hinged.

The trajectory of the ballistic movement of an object (bullet, projectile) consists of points and sections:

  • departure(for example, the muzzle of the barrel) - this point is the beginning of the path, and, accordingly, the reference.
  • Horizon Arms- this section passes through the departure point. The trajectory crosses it twice: during release and fall.
  • Elevation site- this is a line that is a continuation of the horizon forms a vertical plane. This area is called the shooting plane.
  • Path vertices- this is the point that is in the middle between the start and end points (shot and fall), has the highest angle throughout the entire path.
  • Leads- the target or place of the sight and the beginning of the movement of the object form the aiming line. An aiming angle is formed between the horizon of the weapon and the final target.

Rockets: features of launch and movement

There are guided and unguided ballistic missiles. The formation of the trajectory is also influenced by external and external factors (resistance forces, friction, weight, temperature, required flight range, etc.).

The general path of the launched body can be described by the following steps:

  • Launch. In this case, the rocket enters the first stage and begins its movement. From this moment, the measurement of the height of the flight path of a ballistic missile begins.
  • About a minute later, the second engine starts.
  • 60 seconds after the second stage, the third engine starts.
  • Then the body enters the atmosphere.
  • The last thing is the explosion of warheads.

Rocket launch and movement curve formation

The rocket travel curve consists of three parts: the launch period, free flight, and re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.

Live projectiles are launched from a fixed point of portable installations, as well as vehicles (ships, submarines). Bringing into flight lasts from ten thousandths of a second to several minutes. Free fall makes up the largest part of the flight path of a ballistic missile.

The advantages of running such a device are:

  • Long free flight time. Thanks to this property, fuel consumption is significantly reduced in comparison with other rockets. For the flight of prototypes (cruise missiles), more economical engines (for example, jet engines) are used.
  • At the speed at which the intercontinental gun is moving (about 5 thousand m / s), interception is given with great difficulty.
  • A ballistic missile is able to hit a target at a distance of up to 10,000 km.

In theory, the path of movement of a projectile is a phenomenon from the general theory of physics, a section of the dynamics of rigid bodies in motion. With respect to these objects, the movement of the center of mass and the movement around it are considered. The first relates to the characteristics of the object making the flight, the second - to stability and control.

Since the body has programmed trajectories for flight, the calculation of the ballistic trajectory of the rocket is determined by physical and dynamic calculations.

Modern developments in ballistics

Since combat missiles of any kind are life-threatening, the main task of defense is to improve points for launching damaging systems. The latter must ensure the complete neutralization of intercontinental and ballistic weapons at any point in the movement. A multi-tiered system is proposed for consideration:

  • This invention consists of separate tiers, each of which has its own purpose: the first two will be equipped with laser-type weapons (homing missiles, electromagnetic guns).
  • The next two sections are equipped with the same weapons, but designed to destroy the warheads of enemy weapons.

Developments in defense rocketry do not stand still. Scientists are engaged in the modernization of a quasi-ballistic missile. The latter is presented as an object that has a low path in the atmosphere, but at the same time abruptly changes direction and range.

The ballistic trajectory of such a rocket does not affect the speed: even at extremely low altitude, the object moves faster than a normal one. For example, the development of the Russian Federation "Iskander" flies at supersonic speed - from 2100 to 2600 m / s with a mass of 4 kg 615 g, missile cruises move a warhead weighing up to 800 kg. When flying, it maneuvers and evades missile defenses.

Intercontinental weapons: control theory and components

Multistage ballistic missiles are called intercontinental. This name appeared for a reason: because of the long flight range, it becomes possible to transfer cargo to the other end of the Earth. The main combat substance (charge), basically, is an atomic or thermonuclear substance. The latter is placed in front of the projectile.

Further, the control system, engines and fuel tanks are installed in the design. Dimensions and weight depend on the required flight range: the greater the distance, the higher the starting weight and dimensions of the structure.

The ballistic flight path of an ICBM is distinguished from the trajectory of other missiles by altitude. A multi-stage rocket goes through the launch process, then moves upward at a right angle for several seconds. The control system ensures the direction of the gun towards the target. The first stage of the rocket drive after complete burnout is independently separated, at the same moment the next one is launched. Upon reaching a predetermined speed and flight altitude, the rocket begins to rapidly move down towards the target. The flight speed to the destination object reaches 25 thousand km/h.

World developments of special-purpose missiles

About 20 years ago, during the modernization of one of the medium-range missile systems, a project for anti-ship ballistic missiles was adopted. This design is placed on an autonomous launch platform. The weight of the projectile is 15 tons, and the launch range is almost 1.5 km.

The trajectory of a ballistic missile to destroy ships is not amenable to quick calculations, so it is impossible to predict the actions of the enemy and eliminate this weapon.

This development has the following advantages:

  • Launch range. This value is 2-3 times greater than that of the prototypes.
  • The speed and altitude of the flight make military weapons invulnerable to missile defense.

World experts are confident that weapons of mass destruction can still be detected and neutralized. For such purposes, special reconnaissance out-of-orbit stations, aviation, submarines, ships, etc. are used. The most important "opposition" is space reconnaissance, which is presented in the form of radar stations.

The ballistic trajectory is determined by the intelligence system. The received data is transmitted to the destination. The main problem is the rapid obsolescence of information - in a short period of time, the data loses its relevance and can diverge from the real location of the weapon at a distance of up to 50 km.

Characteristics of combat complexes of the domestic defense industry

The most powerful weapon of the present time is considered to be an intercontinental ballistic missile, which is placed permanently. The domestic R-36M2 missile system is one of the best. It houses the 15A18M heavy-duty combat weapon, which is capable of carrying up to 36 individual precision-guided nuclear projectiles.

The ballistic trajectory of such weapons is almost impossible to predict, respectively, the neutralization of the missile also presents difficulties. The combat power of the projectile is 20 Mt. If this munition explodes at a low altitude, the communication, control, and anti-missile defense systems will fail.

Modifications of the given rocket launcher can also be used for peaceful purposes.

Among solid-propellant missiles, the RT-23 UTTKh is considered especially powerful. Such a device is based autonomously (mobile). In the stationary prototype station ("15ZH60"), the starting thrust is 0.3 higher compared to the mobile version.

Missile launches that are carried out directly from the stations are difficult to neutralize, because the number of shells can reach 92 units.

Missile systems and installations of the foreign defense industry

The height of the ballistic trajectory of the rocket of the American Minuteman-3 complex does not differ much from the flight characteristics of domestic inventions.

The complex, which was developed in the United States, is the only "defender" of North America among weapons of this type to this day. Despite the age of the invention, the stability indicators of the guns are not bad even at the present time, because the missiles of the complex could withstand anti-missile defense, as well as hit a target with a high level of protection. The active phase of the flight is short, and is 160 s.

Another American invention is the Peekeper. He could also provide an accurate hit on the target due to the most advantageous ballistic trajectory. Experts say that the combat capabilities of the given complex are almost 8 times higher than those of the Minuteman. Combat duty "Peskyper" was 30 seconds.

Projectile flight and movement in the atmosphere

From the section of dynamics, the influence of air density on the speed of movement of any body in various layers of the atmosphere is known. The function of the last parameter takes into account the dependence of the density directly on the flight altitude and is expressed as:

H (y) \u003d 20000-y / 20000 + y;

where y is the flight height of the projectile (m).

The calculation of the parameters, as well as the trajectory of an intercontinental ballistic missile, can be performed using special computer programs. The latter will provide statements, as well as data on flight altitude, speed and acceleration, and the duration of each stage.

The experimental part confirms the calculated characteristics, and proves that the speed is affected by the shape of the projectile (the better the streamlining, the higher the speed).

Guided weapons of mass destruction of the last century

All weapons of the given type can be divided into two groups: ground and aviation. Ground devices are devices that are launched from stationary stations (for example, mines). Aviation, respectively, is launched from the carrier ship (aircraft).

The ground-based group includes ballistic, cruise and anti-aircraft missiles. For aviation - projectiles, ABR and guided air combat projectiles.

The main characteristic of the calculation of the ballistic trajectory is the height (several thousand kilometers above the atmosphere). At a given level above ground level, projectiles reach high speeds and create enormous difficulties for their detection and neutralization of missile defense systems.

Well-known ballistic missiles, which are designed for an average flight range, are: Titan, Thor, Jupiter, Atlas, etc.

The ballistic trajectory of a missile, which is launched from a point and hits the given coordinates, has the shape of an ellipse. The size and length of the arc depends on the initial parameters: speed, launch angle, mass. If the speed of the projectile is equal to the first space speed (8 km/s), the combat weapon, which is launched parallel to the horizon, will turn into a satellite of the planet with a circular orbit.

Despite constant improvement in the field of defense, the flight path of a live projectile remains virtually unchanged. At the moment, technology is not able to violate the laws of physics that all bodies obey. A small exception are homing missiles - they can change direction depending on the movement of the target.

Inventors of anti-missile systems are also modernizing and developing weapons for the destruction of new generation weapons of mass destruction.