balistics

Balistics, often written as ballistics in modern usage, is the scientific study of the motion of projectiles and the effects of those projectiles on targets. The term generally refers to bullets, artillery shells, and missiles, as well as the mechanisms that produce their motion. While "balistics" is sometimes used as an acceptable variant, the prevailing spelling in technical literature is "ballistics."

Ballistics is traditionally divided into three primary subfields. Internal ballistics covers processes inside the firearm from ignition to barrel exit, including propellant combustion, pressure development, and gas dynamics. External ballistics analyzes the projectile in flight, considering gravity, drag, wind, spin, and aerodynamic stability. Terminal ballistics studies the projectile’s interactions with the target, including penetration, deformation, fragmentation, and energy transfer upon impact.

Forensic ballistics applies ballistic science to criminal investigations, linking evidence such as bullets and cartridge cases to specific firearms. Micro-ballistics examines material-scale interactions between the projectile and target at microscopic levels. Other areas include aerodynamics, instrumentation, and modelling, which support design, testing, and safety assessments.

Practitioners rely on experimental measurements and computational models. Common data include muzzle velocity, ballistic coefficient, drop, drift, and time of flight. Methods range from chronographs and ballistic pendulums to high-speed cameras, radar, and computer simulations using computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis. Standards bodies such as SAAMI and CIP publish specifications for ammunition and firearms to ensure consistency and safety.