ballistic pendulum

ballistic pendulum
a device consisting of a large mass hung from a horizontal bar by two rods, used to measure the velocity of an object, as a bullet, by retaining the object upon impact, its velocity being a function of the displacement of the mass.
[1770-80]

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      device for measuring the velocity of a projectile, such as a bullet. A large wooden block suspended by two cords serves as the pendulum bob. When a bullet is fired into the bob, its momentum is transferred to the bob. The bullet's momentum can be determined from the amplitude of the pendulum swing. The velocity of the bullet, in turn, can be derived from its calculated momentum. The ballistic pendulum was invented by the British mathematician and military engineer Benjamin Robins (Robins, Benjamin), who described the device in his major work, New Principles of Gunnery (1742).

      The ballistic pendulum has been largely supplanted by other devices for projectile velocity tests, but it is still used in classrooms for demonstrating concepts pertaining to momentum and energy.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ballistic pendulum — Pendulum Pen du*lum, n.; pl. {Pendulums}. [NL., fr. L. pendulus hanging, swinging. See {Pendulous}.] A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum. It is used to regulate the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ballistic pendulum — Ballistic Bal*lis tic, a. 1. Of or pertaining to the ballista, or to the art of hurling stones or missile weapons by means of an engine. [1913 Webster] 2. Pertaining to ballistics[2], or to a projectile in a gravitational field. [1913 Webster… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ballistic pendulum — A ballistic pendulum is a device for measuring a bullet s momentum, from which it is possible to calculate the velocity and kinetic energy. Ballistic pendulums have been largely rendered obsolete by modern chronographs, which allow direct… …   Wikipedia

  • ballistic pendulum — noun a physical pendulum consisting of a large mass suspended from a rod; when it is struck by a projectile its displacement is used to measure the projectile s velocity • Hypernyms: ↑physical pendulum, ↑compound pendulum • Hyponyms: ↑gun… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ballistic pendulum — balistinė švytuoklė statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. ballistic pendulum vok. ballistisches Pendel, n rus. баллистический маятник, m pranc. pendule balistique, m …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • ballistic pendulum — /bəˌlɪstɪk ˈpɛndʒələm/ (say buh.listik penjuhluhm) noun a heavy block of wood suspended on strings so that it can swing in one plane only, used for measuring the momentum of bullets, etc …  

  • Pendulum — Pen du*lum, n.; pl. {Pendulums}. [NL., fr. L. pendulus hanging, swinging. See {Pendulous}.] A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum. It is used to regulate the movements …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pendulum bob — Pendulum Pen du*lum, n.; pl. {Pendulums}. [NL., fr. L. pendulus hanging, swinging. See {Pendulous}.] A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum. It is used to regulate the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pendulum level — Pendulum Pen du*lum, n.; pl. {Pendulums}. [NL., fr. L. pendulus hanging, swinging. See {Pendulous}.] A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum. It is used to regulate the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pendulum wheel — Pendulum Pen du*lum, n.; pl. {Pendulums}. [NL., fr. L. pendulus hanging, swinging. See {Pendulous}.] A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum. It is used to regulate the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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