Ballistics (gr. ba'llein, "throw") is the science that deals with the motion, behavior, and effects of projectiles, especially bullets, gravity bombs, rockets, or the like; the science or art of designing and hurling projectiles so as to achieve a desired performance.

A ballistic body is a body which is free to move, behave, and be modified in appearance, contour, or texture by ambient conditions, substances, or forces, as by the pressure of gases in a gun, by rifling in a barrel, by gravity, by temperature, or by air particles.

Firearm ballistics information is used in forensic science. Separately from ballistics information, firearm and tool mark examininations involve analyzing firearm, ammunition, and tool mark evidence in order to establish whether a certain firearm or tool was used in the commition of a crime.

Ballistics is sometimes subdivided into:

• Internal ballistics, the study of the processes originally accelerating the projectile, for example the passage of a bullet through the barrel of a rifle;
• Transition ballistics, the study of the projectile's behavior when it leaves the barrel and the pressure behind the projectile is equalized.
• External ballistics, the study of the passage of the projectile through space or the air; and
• Terminal ballistics, the study of the interaction of a projectile with its target, whether that be flesh (for a hunting bullet), steel (for an anti-tank round), or even furnace slag (for an industrial slag disruptor).

A ballistic missile is a missile designed to operate primarily in accordance with the laws of ballistics.

See also

• Category:Ballistics
• trajectory
• physics of firearms for an elementary introduction
• gun, cartridge and bullet

External links

• http://naca.larc.nasa.gov/reports/1922/naca-tm-111/
• http://www.mindspring.com/~ulfhere/ballistics/mechanics.html