ballistic pendulum

American  

noun

Physics.

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of ballistic pendulum

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

The experiments were made in the usual manner by firing bullets into a ballistic pendulum, and recording the swing of the pendulum.

From Heroes of Science: Physicists by Garnett, William

A ballistic pendulum, carried by a geometric suspension from five points, has also been employed by C.V.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 3 "Chitral" to "Cincinnati" by Various

Ballistic Pendulum.—The disruptive force of explosives, as tested by the ballistic pendulum, is measured by the amount of oscillation.

From Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, vol. LXX, Dec. 1910 Federal Investigations of Mine Accidents, Structural Materials and Fuels. Paper No. 1171 by Wilson, Herbert M.

Robins, in 1742, first measured the muzzle-speed of the shot by firing into a ballistic pendulum and noting the swing of the pendulum.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 3 Atrebates to Bedlis by Various

Samples of all explosives used in the testing gallery, ballistic pendulum, pressure gauge, and other testing apparatus, are here subjected to chemical analysis in order to determine the component materials and their exact percentages.

From Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, vol. LXX, Dec. 1910 Federal Investigations of Mine Accidents, Structural Materials and Fuels. Paper No. 1171 by Wilson, Herbert M.