Ballistics and its Branches
Ballistics is the science of the motion of the projectile and the condition that affects its motion. It is a
science in itself
for it is an orderly arranged knowledge, which is a product of a
series of experimentation, observation and testing. It is not an
exact science rather an applied physics. As such, it is subject to
changes and imprOvement depending upon the demands of the
modern civilization. It is apt to describe ballistics as an applied
physics for it studies the motions of the projectile such as its
velocity, trajectory, approximate range, power, resistance to air
and other circumstances that affects its travel. Initially, the study of
ballistics was not designed for firearms identification rather it was
earlier studied mainly for firearm manufacture, that is, for industrial
applications. Gun makers continuously study and innovate on how
to effectively propel a projectile through the use of firearms from
an ordinary single shot to an automatic one. It was only later that
its significance in determining cases through the identification of
ammunition that ballistics was finally applied in the administration
of justice on cases involving firearms.
Motion refers to the mobility or movement of the projectile
from the time it leaves the empty shell; it leaves the gun muzzle
and until it reachesits target or falls on the ground.
Projectile
is a generic term which refers to any metallic or non-metallic ball that
Is propelled from a firearm. Technically, all projectile propels from a
small arm is called bullets with the exemption of a shotgun projectile
