Don inspected the installation and whistled. "Not half bad, sonny. Not half bad."
"Except that we haven't been able to make it work."
"Well, for one thing, you've been running on the wrong track. You need more power."
"Sure," grinned Walt. "More power, he says. I don't see how we can cram any more soup into this can. She'll melt."
"Walt, what happens in a big gun?"
"Powder burns; expanding products of combustion push—"
"Functionally, what are you trying to accomplish? Take it on the basis of a solid shot, like they used to use back in the sailing ship days."
"Well," said Walt thoughtfully, "I'd say they were trying to heave something large enough to do damage."
"Precisely. Qualifying that statement a little, you might say that the projectile transmits the energy of the powder charge to its objective."