noun
ballistics
buh-LIS-tiks/bəˈlɪstɪks/
The study of how bullets and other projectiles move and what effects they have.
The scientist studies ballistics by tracking the launched ball's curved path.
Etymology
The ballista hurled stones in warfare. With the discipline ending -ics, its name points to the study of how launched projectiles move, extending beyond any particular throwing machine.
In context
the development of controlled fragmentation, often referred to as hybrid projectiles. Ammunition like high-end segmented hollow points or machined copper fracturing rounds, take a highly engineered phased approach to terminal ballistics.
More examples
- The course introduced basic ballistics.
- Investigators consulted a ballistics specialist.
- Ballistics helped explain the projectile's motion.
Forms
ballistics
Similar words
- physics
- The broader science of matter, energy, and motion.
- forensics
- Applies science to investigations, sometimes including projectile evidence.