It was a mystery for years why a co-axially - clockwise (right-hand) - spinning bullet, fired
horizontally,
parallel to the surface of a calm body of water, veered off to the left (counter-clockwise) when it skipped across the water...
The enigma was finally resolved when it was realized that the clockwise spin was causing the
back end of the bullet to move to the right, steering the front end of the bullet to the left, in the opposite direction of the co-axial spin.
This is an example of of how considerations about spin need be thoroughly thought out before any resolute conclusions may be reached. The issued missile appeared to be acting contrary to logic, whereas upon closer scrutinization, it was behaving as could be expected when all of the involved information was closely scrutinized.
Quote:
Originally Posted by N0B0DY "The enigma was finally resolved when it was realized that the clockwise spin was causing the back end of the bullet to move to the right, steering the front end of the bullet to the left, in the opposite direction of the co-axial spin."
Would the above have anything to do with the back end hitting the water first, where the spin would cause the bullet to veer left? |
Dear Nobody:
An additional note on this issue is that the trajectory of rifled bullets do not behave like the trajectories of arrows, for example.
A projected arrow alters its angle from being let loose at say, 45o -
it returns to earth, head first; at a 45o angle. Whereas,a rifled projectile returns to earth
back-end first, also at the same angle it was fired. Of course this fact is cogent to and confirms your astute observation.
Best regards,
- RP