EXPERIMENTS IN FRANCE.
It is stated by Captain Jervis, R.A., in the “Rifle Musket,” that “From experiments made in France, Angle for greatest range.it has been found that the greatest range of the common percussion musket, with spherical bullet fired with the regulation charge, was at 25°; yet, by theoretical calculation, it should be 45°; Velocity.also that the usual velocity was some 500 yards per second, whilst in vacuum it would be 19,792 yards per second.
Elevation giving certain range.
“At an angle of from 4° to 5°, the real range was about 640 yards; without the resistance of the air, and at an angle of 41⁄2°, it would be 3,674, or six times greater.”
ON THE EFFECT OF THE RESISTANCE OF THE AIR UPON THE MOTION OF A PROJECTILE.
The effect of the air’s resistance upon the motion of a projectile.
The effect of the resistance of the atmosphere to the motion of a projectile, is a subject of the greatest importance in gunnery. It has engaged the attention of the most eminent philosophers, and on account of the great difficulty of determining by experiment, the correctness of any particular hypothesis, much difference of opinion is entertained as to the absolute effect of this retarding force upon bodies moving in the atmosphere with great velocities; and although sufficient is known to guide the practical artillerist in that art to which he is devoted, still as a scientific question, it is one of considerable interest, but more on account of the difficulty of its solution, than from its practical importance.
Mr. Robins’ discoveries.