Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol. 1: Containing a collection of some of the principal phaenomena in nature, accounted for by the greatest philosophers of this age
History
Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol. 1: Containing a collection of some of the principal phaenomena in nature, accounted for by the greatest philosophers of this age
Natural history; Science -- Early works to 1800; Voyages and travels -- Early works to 1800
In the precedent Discourse, I considered all the Propositions relating
to the Motion of Projectiles, and gave a Solution to this Problem;
_viz._ _To hit an Object above or below the Horizontal Line with the
greatest Certainty and least Force._ That is, that the Horizontal
distance of the Object being put = _b_, and the Perpendicular Heighth =
_b_, the Charge requisite to strike the Object with the greatest
Advantage, was that which with an Elevation of 45° would cast the Shot
on the Horizontal Line, to the distance of √(_bb +hh_), when the
Object was above the Horizon; or if it were below it, the Charge must be
lesser, so as to reach on the Horizon, at 45° Elevation, no greater a
Distance than √(_bb + hh_) - _h_; that is, in the one Case, the Sum
of the Hypothenusal Distance of the Object from the Gun, and the
Perpendicular Heighth thereof above the Gun; and in the other Case, when
the Object is below the Horizon, the difference of the same _per_ 47. I
_Eucl._ And I then shew'd how to find the Elevation proper for the Gun
so charged, _viz._ As the Horizontal Distance of the Object, to the Sum
or Difference of the Hypothenusal Distance and Perpendicular Height: So
Radius to the Tangent of the Elevation sought. But I was not at that
time aware that the aforesaid Elevation did constantly bisect the Angle
between the Perpendicular and the Object, as is demonstrated from the
Difference and Sum of the _Tangent_ and _Secant_ of any Arch being
always equal to the _Tangent_ and _Cotangent_ of the half Complement
thereof to a Quadrant. Having discovered this, I think nothing can be
more compendious, or bids fairer to compleat the Art of Gunnery, it
being as easie to shoot with a Mortar at any Object on demand, as if it
were on the Level; neither is there need of any Computation, but only
simply laying the Gun to pass, in the middle Line between the Zenith and
the Object, and giving it its due Charge. Nor is there any great need of
Instruments for this purpose: For if the Muzzle of the Mortar be turned
truly Square to the Bore of the Piece, as it usually is or ought to be,
a piece of Looking-glass Plate applied parallel to the Muzzle, will by
its Reflection give the true Position of the Piece, the Bombardeer
having no more to do, but to look perpendicularly down on the
Looking-glass, along a small Thread with a Plumbet, and to raise or
depress the Elevation of the Piece, till the Object appear reflected on
the same Point of the _Speculum_, on which the Plumbet falls; for the
Angle of Incidence and Reflection being equal, in this Case a Line at
Right Angles to the _Speculum_, as is the _Axis_ of the Chase of the
Piece, will bisect the Angle between the Perpendicular and the Object,
according as our Proposition requires. So that it only remains by good
and valid Experiments to be assured of the Force of Gunpowder, how to
make and conserve it equal, and to know the Effect thereof in each
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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