Projectile: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Object propelled through the air}}

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[[File:155fire.jpg|thumb| A projectile being fired from an [[artillery]] piece]]

A '''projectile''' is any object propelled through space by the exertion of a force, which ceases after launch. In a general sense, even a [[Football (ball)|football]] or [[baseball]] may be considered a projectile. It can cause damage ([[injury]], [[property damage]]) to a person, animal or object it hits, depending on factors including [[size]], [[shape]], [[speed]] and [[hardness]]. Accordingly, in practice most projectiles are designed as [[weapons]].

A '''projectile''' is an object that is propelled by the application of an external [[force]] and then moves freely under the influence of [[gravity]] and [[air resistance]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pius|first1=Okeke|last2=Maduka|first2=Anyakoha|title=Senior Secondary School Physics|publisher=Macmillan,Lagos, Nigeria|year=2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/projectile|title=projectile |website=merriam-webster.com |access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref> Although any objects in [[motion (physics)|motion]] through space are projectiles, they are commonly found in [[warfare]] and [[sport]]s (for example, a thrown [[Baseball (ball)|baseball]], kicked [[ball (association football)|football]], fired [[bullet]], shot [[arrow]], stone released from [[catapult]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=projectile |website=The Free Dictionary |url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/projectile |access-date=2010-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=projectile |website=Dictionary.com |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/projectile |access-date=2010-05-19}}</ref>

In [[ballistics]], mathematical [[equations of motion]] are used to analyze projectile [[trajectory|trajectories]] through launch, [[flight]], and [[terminal ballistics|impact]].

==Motive force==

{{See also|Projectile motion}}

[[Arrow]]s, [[dart (missile)|darts]], [[spear]]s, and similar weapons are fired using pure mechanical force applied by another solid object; conversely, other weapons use the compression or expansion of gases as their motive force.

[[File:Schwerer Gustav projectile 2.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Projectile and cartridge case for the huge [[World War II]] ''[[Schwerer Gustav]]'' artillery piece. Most projectile weapons use the compression or expansion of gases as their motive force.]]

[[Blowgun]]s and [[pneumatic rifle]]s use compressed gases, while most other [[gun]]s and [[firearm]]s utilize expanding gases liberated by sudden chemical reactions. [[Light gas gun]]s use a combination of these mechanisms.

[[Blowgun]]s and [[pneumatic rifle]]s use compressed gases, while most other [[gun]]s and [[cannon]]s utilize expanding gases liberated by sudden chemical reactions by [[propellant]]s like [[smokeless powder]]. [[Light-gas gun]]s use a combination of these mechanisms.

[[Railgun]]s utilize electromagnetic fields to provide a constant acceleration along the entire length of the device, greatly increasing the [[muzzle velocity]].

[[Railgun]]s utilize electromagnetic fields to provide acceleration along the entire length of the device, greatly increasing the [[muzzle velocity]].

Some projectiles provide propulsion during (part of) the flight by means of a [[rocket engine]] or [[jet engine]]. In military terminology, a [[rocket]] is unguided, while a [[missile]] is [[guided missile|guided]]. Note the two meanings of "rocket": an [[ICBM]] is a missile with rocket engines.

Some projectiles provide [[propulsion]] during flight by means of a [[rocket engine]] or [[jet engine]]. In military terminology, a [[rocket]] is unguided, while a [[missile]] is [[guided missile|guided]]. Note the two meanings of "rocket" (weapon and engine): an [[Intercontinental ballistic missile|ICBM]] is a guided missile with a rocket engine.

==Kinetic projectiles==

Some projectiles do ''not'' contain an explosive charge (such as [[Shell (projectile)|shell]]s). They are termed ''kinetic projectile'', ''kinetic energy weapon'', ''kinetic warhead'' or ''kinetic penetrator''. The classic kinetic energy weapon is the ''[[bullet]]''. Among projectiles which do not contain explosives are [[railgun]]s, [[coilgun]]s, [[mass driver]]s, and [[kinetic energy penetrator]]s, in addition to smaller weapons such as bullets. All of these weapons work by attaining a high [[muzzle velocity]] ([[hypervelocity]]), and [[collision|collide]] with their objective, releasing [[kinetic energy]].

An explosion, whether or not by a weapon, causes the debris to act as multiple high velocity projectiles. An explosive weapon or device may also be designed to produce many high velocity projectiles by the break-up of its casing; these are correctly termed ''[[Fragmentation (weaponry)|fragments]]''.

Some kinetic weapons for targeting objects in [[spaceflight]] are [[anti-satellite weapon]]s and [[anti-ballistic missile]]s. Since they need to attain a high velocity anyway, they can destroy their target with their released kinetic energy alone; explosives are not necessary. Compare the energy of [[trinitrotoluene|TNT]], 4.6 MJ/kg, to the energy of a kinetic kill vehicle with a closing speed of 10 km/s, which is 50 MJ/kg. This saves costly weight and there is no [[detonation]] to be precisely timed. This method, however, requires direct contact with the target, which requires more accuracy.

==In sports {{anchor|Sport projectiles}}==

With regard to anti-missile weapons, the [[Arrow missile]] and [[MIM-104 Patriot]] have explosives, but the KEI, LEAP, and [[THAAD]] being developed do not (see [[Missile Defense Agency]]).

[[Image:baseball.jpg|thumb|Ball speeds of {{convert|105|mph|km/h}} have been recorded in [[baseball]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/blogs/thebuzz/2010/08/aroldis_chapman.html|title=Aroldis Chapman hits 105 mph|publisher=[[Boston.com]]|date=2010-08-26|access-date=2010-08-30|first=Matt|last=Pepin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831185316/http://www.boston.com/sports/blogs/thebuzz/2010/08/aroldis_chapman.html|archive-date=31 August 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

]]

In projectile motion the most important force applied to the projectile mass is the propelling force. In many sports, the propelling forces are provided by muscles that accelerate the projectile (ball, disc, javelin, hammer, dart), and the stronger the propelling force, the faster and farther the projectile will travel. See [[pitch (baseball)|pitching]], [[bowling]].

==As a weapon==

See also [[Terminal ballistics#Hypervelocity terminal ballistics|Hypervelocity terminal ballistics]], [[Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle]] (EKV).

===Delivery projectiles===

A kinetic projectile can also be dropped from aircraft. This is applied by replacing the explosives of a regular bomb e.g. by concrete, for a precision hit with less [[collateral damage]]. A typical bomb has a mass of 900 kg and a speed of impact of 800 km/h (220 m/s). It is also applied for training the act of dropping a bomb with explosives. [http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1999/10/991007-iraq.htm] This method has been used in [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] and the subsequent military operations in [[Iraq]] by mating concrete-filled training bombs with [[JDAM]] [[GPS]] guidance kits, to attack vehicles and other relatively "soft" targets located too close to civilian structures for the use of conventional [[high explosive]] bombs.

Many projectiles, e.g. [[Shell (projectile)|shells]], may carry an explosive charge or another chemical or biological substance. Aside from explosive payload, a projectile can be designed to cause special damage, e.g. fire (see also [[early thermal weapons]]), or poisoning (see also [[arrow poison]]).

===Kinetic projectiles===

A [[kinetic bombardment]] may involve a projectile dropped from Earth orbit.

{{excerpt|Kinetic energy weapon}}

==Wired projectiles==

A hypothetical kinetic weapon that travels at a significant fraction of the speed of light, usually found in science fiction, is termed a [[relativistic kill vehicle]] (RKV).

Some projectiles stay connected by a cable to the launch equipment after launching it:

* for guidance: [[wire-guided missile]] (range up to {{convert|4000|m|disp=or|||}})

* to administer an electric shock, as in the case of a [[Taser]] (range up to {{convert|10.6|m|disp=or|||}}); two projectiles are shot simultaneously, each with a cable.

* to make a connection with the target, either to tow it towards the launcher, as with a whaling [[harpoon]], or to draw the launcher to the target, as a [[grappling hook]] does.

==Typical projectile speeds==

{{disputed section|date=December 2018}}

{{seealso|Orders of magnitude (speed)|Muzzle velocity}}

{{See also|Orders of magnitude (speed)|Muzzle velocity}}

<!-- the 1m fall is incorrect... it'll be moving 9.8m/s after moving 4.905meters.. not 1 -->

<!--i changed the 1m fall v=g*t with t=sqrt(2s/g) -->

{| class="wikitable"

!rowspan=2 | Projectile

! Projectile || [[Speed]] (m/s) || (ft/s) || (mph)||[[Kinetic energy]]

!colspan=4 | [[Speed]]

!rowspan=2 | [[Specific kinetic energy]] (J/kg)

|-

!(m/s) !! (km/h) !! (ft/s) !! (mph)

| object [[falling]] 1 m || 4.43 m/s || 14.5 ft/s || 9.9 mph||9.8 J/kg

|-

| objectObject falling 101 m ||(in 14vacuum, m/at Earth's surface) || 464.43 ft/s|| 15.948 || 3114.5 mph||98 J/kg9.9 ||9.8

|-

|Object thrownfalling [[club10 (weapon)]]m (expertin throwervacuum, at Earth's surface) || 40 m/s14 || 130 ft/s50.4 || 90 mph46 || 80031 J/kg||98

|-

|Thrown object[[club falling(weapon)|club]] 100(expert mthrower) || 45 m/s40 || 150144 || ft/s130 || 10090 mph||980 J/kg800

|-

|Object refinedfalling 100 m (=in flexible)vacuum, [[atlatl]]at dartEarth's (expert throwersurface) || 45 m/s|| 162 || 150 ft/s || 100 mph || 1000 J/kg980

|-

|Refined 80-lb-draw pistol(flexible) [[crossbowatlatl]] boltdart (expert thrower) || 58 m/s45 || 190 ft/s162 || 130150 mph|| 100 || 1.7 kJ/kg,000

|-

|Ice hockey puck ([[paintballslapshot]], firedprofessional fromplayer) marker || 91 m/s50 || 300 ft/s180 || 204165 mph|| 110 || 4.1 kJ/kg,300

|-

| 17580-lb-draw pistol [[crossbow]] bolt || 97 m/s58 || 320 ft/s208.8 || 217 mph190 || 130 4.7|| kJ/kg1,700

|-

| [[airArrow|War gunarrow]] [[Pelletshot (airfrom gun)|pellet]]a 6 mm150&nbsp;lbs [[BBEnglish gunlongbow|BBmedieval warbow]] || 10063 m/s|| 228.2 || 328 ft/s208 || 224 mph141 || 5 kJ/kg2,000

|-

| [[rifleBlunt Impact Projectile]] bulletshot 4.5from mma 40mm [[grenade launcher]] || 150 m/s87 || 492313.2 || ft/s285 || 336194.6 mph||11 kJ/kg3,785

|-

| [[air gunPaintball]] pelletfired (conventionalfrom maximum)marker || 24491 m/s|| 327.6 || 800 ft/s300 || 545 mph204 || 29.8 kJ/kg4,100

|-

| 9x19 mm (bullet of a175-lb-draw [[pistolcrossbow]]) bolt || 34097 m/s|| 349.2 || 1116 ft/s320 || 761217 mph||58 kJ/kg4,700

|-

| 12.7x99 6&nbsp;mm (bullet of a heavy [[machineAirsoft gunpellet]]) || 800100 m/s|| 360 || 2625 ft/s328 || 1790224 mph||320 kJ/kg5,000

|-

|[[Air Rifle]] BB 4.5&nbsp;mm || 150 || 540 || 492 || 336 || 11,000

| [[5.56 x 45 mm NATO|5.56x45 mm]] (standard bullet used in many assault rifles) || 920 m/s || 3018 ft/s || 2058 mph||470 kJ/kg

|-

|[[Air 125x1400gun]] mmpellet .177" (shellmagnum-power ofair a [[tank]]rifle) || 1700 m/s305 || 5577878.4 ft/s|| 1,000 || 3803545 mph||1.4 MJ/kg29,800

|-

|[[9×19mm 2kg Tungsten SlugParabellum|9×19mm]] (frombullet Experimentalof a [[Railgunpistol]]) || 3000 m/s340 || 9843 ft/s1224 || 6711 mph1,116 || 4.5761 || MJ/kg58,000

|-

| [[ICBM.50 BMG|12.7×99 mm]] (bullet of a heavy [[reentrymachine vehiclegun]]) || up800 to 4|| km/s2,880 || up to 13000 ft/s2,625 || up to 9000 mph1,790 || up to 8 MJ/kg320,000

|-

|German projectileTiger of aI [[light8.8 cm gasKwK gun36|88 mm]] ||(tank upshell- toPzgr. 739 km/sAPCBCHE) || up810 to|| 23000 ft/s2,899 || up2,657 to|| 16000 mph1,812 || up to 24 MJ/kg328,050

|-

|[[5.56×45mm NATO|5.56×45mm]] (standard round used in many modern rifles) || 920 || 3,312 || 3,018 || 2,058 || 470,000

| satellite in LEO || 8 km/s || 26000 ft/s || 19000 mph || 32 MJ/kg

|-

|[[20×102mm]] (standard US cannon round used in fighter cannons) || 1,039 || 3,741 || 3,410 || 2,325 || 540,000

| [[Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle]] || closing speed roughly 10 km/s || ~33000 ft/s || ~22000 mph || ~ 50 MJ/kg

|-

|25×140mm ([[Kinetic energy penetrator|APFSDS]], [[tank]] penetrator) || 1,700 || 6,120 || 5,577 || 3,803 || 1,400,000

| projectile (e.g. [[space debris]]) and target both in [[Low Earth orbit|LEO]] || closing speed 0 - 16 km/s || ~53000 ft/s || ~36000 mph || ~ 130 MJ/kg

|-

|2&nbsp;kg tungsten Slug (from Experimental [[Railgun]]) || 3,000 || 10,800 || 9,843 || 6,711 || 4,500,000

|-

|[[Medium-range ballistic missile|MRBM]] [[reentry vehicle]] || Up to 4,000 || Up to 14,000 || Up to 13,000 || Up to 9,000 || Up to 8,000,000

|-

|projectile of a [[light-gas gun]] || Up to 7,000 || Up to 25,000 || Up to 23,000 || Up to 16,000 || Up to 24,000,000

|-

|Satellite in [[low Earth orbit]] || 8,000 || 29,000 || 26,000 || 19,000 || 32,000,000

|-

|[[Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle]] || ~10,000 || ~36,000 || ~33,000 || ~22,000 || ~50,000,000

|-

|Projectile (e.g., [[space debris]]) and target both in [[low Earth orbit]] || 0–16,000 || ~58,000 || ~53,000 || ~36,000 || ~130,000,000

|-

|7 [[Tera-|T]][[Electronvolt|eV]] [[particle]] in [[Large Hadron Collider|LHC]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Facts and figures |url=http://public-archive.web.cern.ch/public-archive/en/lhc/Facts-en.html |website=European Organization for Nuclear Research |publisher=[[CERN]] |access-date=2018-07-02 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180702083613/http://public-archive.web.cern.ch/public-archive/en/lhc/Facts-en.html |archive-date=2018-07-02 |date=2008}}</ref> || 299,792,455 <ref group="note">Approximate equivalent of 99,9999991% [[speed of light|c]].</ref> || 1,079,252,839 || 983571079 || 670,616,536 || ~6.7 × 10²⁰ <ref group="note">In relation to the rest mass of [[proton]].</ref>

|}

==Equations of motion==

==Miscellaneous==

{{main|Projectile motion}}

[[Ballistics]] analyze the projectile [[trajectory]], the forces acting upon the projectile, and the impact that a projectile has on a target. A [[guided missile]] is not called a projectile.

An object projected at an angle to the horizontal has both the vertical and horizontal components of velocity. The vertical component of the velocity on the y-axis is given as <math>V_y=U\sin\theta</math> while the horizontal component of the velocity is <math>V_x=U\cos\theta</math>. There are various calculations for projectiles at a specific angle <math>\theta</math>:

1. Time to reach maximum height. It is symbolized as (<math>t</math>), which is the time taken for the projectile to reach the maximum height from the plane of projection. Mathematically, it is given as <math>t=U \sin\theta/g</math> where <math>g</math> = acceleration due to gravity (app 9.81&nbsp;m/s²), <math>U</math> = initial velocity (m/s) and <math>\theta</math> = angle made by the projectile with the horizontal axis.

An explosion, whether or not by a weapon, causes the debris to act as multiple high velocity projectiles. An explosive weapon, or device may also be designed to produce many high velocity projectiles by the break-up of its casing, these are correctly termed [[Fragmentation (weaponry)|fragments]].

2. Time of flight (<math>T</math>): this is the total time taken for the projectile to fall back to the same plane from which it was projected. Mathematically it is given as <math>T=2U\sin\theta/g</math>.

The term projectile also refers to [[weapons]] or any other objects thrown, shot or otherwise directed to enemies in video games or computer games.

3. Maximum Height (<math>H</math>): this is the maximum height attained by the projectile OR the maximum displacement on the vertical axis (y-axis) covered by the projectile. It is given as <math>H = U^2 \sin^2\theta/2g</math>.

==See also==

{{Wiktionary}}

4. Range (<math>R</math>): The Range of a projectile is the horizontal distance covered (on the x-axis) by the projectile. Mathematically, <math>R = U^2 \sin 2\theta/g</math>. The Range is maximum when angle <math>\theta</math> = 45°, i.e. <math>\sin 2\theta=1</math>.

* [[:Category:Projectiles]]

** [[Arrow]]

==See also==

** [[Dart (missile)|Dart]]

** [[Spear]]

** [[Torpedo]]

** [[Missile]]

* [[Atlatl]]

* [[Ballistics]]

* [[Gunpowder]]

* [[Bullet]]

* [[Impact depth]]

* [[TrajectoryKinetic of a projectilebombardment]]

* [[Shell (projectile)]]

* [[Projectile point]]

* [[Projectile use by animals]]

* [[Arrow]]

* [[Dart (missile)|Dart]]

* [[Missile]]

* [[Sling (weapon)#Ammunition|Sling ammunition]]

* [[Spear]]

* [[Torpedo]]

* [[Range of a projectile]]

* [[Collision (physical attack)]]

* [[Space debris]]

* [[Trajectory of a projectile]]

* [[Ballistics]]

* [[Kinetic bombardment]]

==Notes==

{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

* {{cite book|author=Heidi Knecht|title=Projectile Technology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zS2SBgAAQBAJ&q=Semyonov+chahars|date=29 June 2013|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4899-1851-2}}

==External links==

{{Commons category|Projectiles}}

* [http://www.physics-lab.net/applets.php?app=projectile Projectile Motion Applet]

{{Wiktionary}}

* [http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnujava/htmltag.php?code=users.sgeducation.lookang.Projectile02_pkg.Projectile02Applet.class&name=Projectile02&muid=14019 Open Source Physics computer model]

* [http://www.physics-lab.net/applets/projectile-motion Projectile Motion Applet]

* [http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/109N/more_stuff/Applets/ProjectileMotion/jarapplet.html Another projectile Motion Applet]

{{Authority control}}

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