Initial speed measuremnts by 1900?

JorgeO · 12-15-2008, 12:04 PM

- Morgan Kane

You can improve your method nowadays!

http://arxiv.org/pdf/physics/0601102

Thanks for the DVD!

- John Sabato

Thanks for the book and link!

unspellable · 12-19-2008, 08:12 PM

The method originally used to measure the velocity from the Luger involved the bullet severing two metal foil strips placed about 15 m or 50 ft apart. The foil carried a current. When the first strip was severed it interrupted the current to an electromagnet releasing a weight. The second strip on being severed induced a spark that marked a tape pulled by the falling weight. The method was actually quite accurate. One should bear in mind that what was actually measured was the average speed from around 5 feet to 55 feet. (The same method was used in both metric and English unit countries, 50 ft between strips in English countries pistols, 100 feet for rifles.) It's more accurate than the ballistic pendulum.

I did the ballistic pendulum thing for my project in my first college physics class. I suppose that's giving away my age. Fancy dragging a big bore revolver into the physics building these days!

12-15-2008, 12:04 PM	#1
JorgeO User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brazil Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	- Morgan Kane You can improve your method nowadays! http://arxiv.org/pdf/physics/0601102 Thanks for the DVD! - John Sabato Thanks for the book and link! __________________ Wood grips are nicer!

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12-19-2008, 08:12 PM	#2
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 769 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 12 Posts	The method originally used to measure the velocity from the Luger involved the bullet severing two metal foil strips placed about 15 m or 50 ft apart. The foil carried a current. When the first strip was severed it interrupted the current to an electromagnet releasing a weight. The second strip on being severed induced a spark that marked a tape pulled by the falling weight. The method was actually quite accurate. One should bear in mind that what was actually measured was the average speed from around 5 feet to 55 feet. (The same method was used in both metric and English unit countries, 50 ft between strips in English countries pistols, 100 feet for rifles.) It's more accurate than the ballistic pendulum. I did the ballistic pendulum thing for my project in my first college physics class. I suppose that's giving away my age. Fancy dragging a big bore revolver into the physics building these days!