Which category of ballistics is concerned with the behavior of a projectile after it leaves the barrel?

Which category of ballistics is concerned with the behavior of a projectile after it leaves the barrel?

• A. Internal
• B. External
• C. Terminal
• D. Mechanical

Answer: (B)

The category of ballistics that deals with the behavior of a projectile after it exits the barrel is known as external ballistics. This area examines the flight path of the projectile, how it interacts with atmospheric conditions, stability, drag, and how distance and gravity affect its trajectory. Understanding external ballistics is crucial for predicting where a projectile will land and for accurately hitting a target, as it accounts for variables such as air resistance and wind that come into play once the projectile is in flight. In contrast, internal ballistics pertains to the events occurring inside the firearm, such as the ignition of the powder and the movement of the projectile down the barrel. Terminal ballistics focuses on the effects of the projectile when it strikes a target, analyzing the damage it can inflict. Mechanical considerations deal with the design and components of the firearm itself rather than the projectile's behavior in flight. Thus, external ballistics is the appropriate category for this question.

The category of ballistics that deals with the behavior of a projectile after it exits the barrel is known as external ballistics. This area examines the flight path of the projectile, how it interacts with atmospheric conditions, stability, drag, and how distance and gravity affect its trajectory. Understanding external ballistics is crucial for predicting where a projectile will land and for accurately hitting a target, as it accounts for variables such as air resistance and wind that come into play once the projectile is in flight.

In contrast, internal ballistics pertains to the events occurring inside the firearm, such as the ignition of the powder and the movement of the projectile down the barrel. Terminal ballistics focuses on the effects of the projectile when it strikes a target, analyzing the damage it can inflict. Mechanical considerations deal with the design and components of the firearm itself rather than the projectile's behavior in flight. Thus, external ballistics is the appropriate category for this question.