Olalo, Leo Restian B Mr. Rey Niño B.

Abucay
BSCRIM 4C September 10, 2021
Forensic 6

Week 2
Branches of Ballistics:
Internal, Transitional, External, and Terminal

Lesson Objectives:
At the end of this session, the student will be able to:
1. Identify the different branches of Ballistics
2. Discuss the behavior of projectile based on each branches

LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW

Introduction

Hello students! How are you today? I hope

you are doing well. Could you still remember our
previous lesson about the “History of Forensic
Ballistics”?  As we all remember the Ballistics is
the study of the motion of a projectile. When we
say MOTION it refers to the movement or the
mobility of the bullet. We have different motion of
the projectile or bullet these are:

Direct- forward movement of the projectile inside the gun barrel resulting from the expanding
forces of gasses produced after combustion of the gun powder.

Rotary- the gyrating action (rotating/spinning), either right or left, of the projectile while passing
through a gun barrel

Translational- the straight-line movement where every part of the projectile follows a parallel
path and no rotation takes place such as bouncing of a bullet after hitting a resistant surface.

At this time, our lesson for today is entitled “ Branches of Ballistics”. The Branches of
Ballistics include Internal/Interior Ballistics, External/Exterior Ballistics, and Terminal Ballistics. For this
lesson, you are expected to accomplish the two objectives, these are 1. Identify the three (3) branches
of Ballistics and  2. Discuss the behavior of projectile based on each branch

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 MAIN LESSON
Content Notes
Read and understand the lesson. It is better to use notebooks or spare
sheets in writing down important terms and details.

Interior / Internal Ballistics

Refers to the motion, attributes, and characteristics of the bullet while still inside the firearm and it
extends from breech to muzzle point.

How the Cartridge Works

1. A blow from the firing pin to the

primer is the tendency for the
priming mixture is to be crushed
against the anvil causing its
ignition which refers to
percussion.

2.  Subsequently, the produced flame travels and passes to a vent or flash hole that connects the
priming mixture and gunpowder causing the rapid and confined burning of the gunpowder
known as deflagration at about 0.0000001 seconds.

3. When the powder begins to burn it produces an expansive force of gases a pressure to push the
bullet to disengage from being crimped at the mouth of the cartridge case. 

4. Once the bullet is forced outside to make firm contact with the bore, the cartridge case expanded
as the pressure generated within to prevent the gas to leak rearward so that it would be
confined within the chamber of the firearm. Thus, sealing of the barrel due to case expansion
and bullet action is known as obturation.

5. The small amount of expanded gas that would leak in between the body of the shell and the
inner surface of the chamber wall is known as blowback.

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 6. The time during which the projectile is influenced by interior ballistics is very short. From the
release of the firing pin to the moment the sound of the shot can be heard as it leaves the
muzzle occupies only about 0.01 seconds.

Attributes of Interior Ballistics

Ignition of the primer (percussion) =Flames is produced = Combustion of the gunpowder (deflagration)=
Energy that is generated = Force/Pressure developed = Velocity of the bullet (from the chamber to the
muzzle) = Rotation of the bullet (left/right)= Engraving of the cylindrical surface of the bullet(impression
of lands and grooves.

Transition Ballistics
(sometimes called intermediate ballistics)
The study of the projectile's behavior
when it leaves the barrel and the pressure behind
the projectile is equalized.

It is the area where the bullet leaves the

barrel and is on its own. Mechanically it involves
flash suppressors, sound suppressors and recoil
compensators.

External / Exterior Ballistics

Treats of the attributes or movement of the projectile after leaving the gun muzzle. It is extended
from the muzzle of the gun to the target or any attributes to the motion of the projectile while it is in flight
and before reaching the target.

Attributes of Exterior Ballistics

1. Muzzle Blast - This is the noise created

at the muzzle end of the barrel of the
firearm after the explosion.

2. Muzzle energy - Energy generated at

the muzzle point measured in foot-pound.

3. Trajectory - Refers to the parabola-like

flight of the projectile from the time it
leaves the muzzle until it hits the target. It is
also described as the actual curve path
taken by a bullet during its flight.

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4. Range - It refers to the imaginary straight distance between the muzzle of the gun and the target.
1. Accurate Range- the distance within which the shooter or gunner has control of his shots.
2. Effective Range - the distance within which the bullet is expected to be lethal.
3. Maximum Range- the distance that a projectile can be propelled from a firearm.
4. Maximum Effective Range- is the farthest possible distance that a bullet could travel.

5. Velocity - Refers to the rate of speed of the bullet (during its flight) per unit of time usually express is
feet per second (ft/sec.)
6. Pull of Gravity - It is the downward reaction of the bullet towards the earth’s surface due to its
weight.
7. Air Resistance - Refers to the force of the air encounter by the bullet in its flight.
8. Penetration - The depth of entry on the target

Benjamin Robins
Englishman invented the Ballistics Pendulum, an instrument use to measure the muzzle
velocity of any firearm and who was one of the first to state sound ballistics theories in his new
principles of Gunnery in 1742. He became the Father of modern gunnery.
Alfred Lee Loomis
Invented another instrument use to measure bullet’s speed is the Chronograph

Terminal Ballistics
Refers to the effects of the impact of the projectile on the target. It extends from its initial contact
towards the deepness of penetration on the target. Penetration of the bullet is of prime interest.

Attributes of Terminal Ballistics

a)Terminal accuracy which refers to the size of the

bullet grouping on the target. This is so because
of some resistance and interventions that make
the bullet change its momentum to perform other
motions rather than straight and hit the target
partially or totally sideways instead of head on.
Due to this effect, keyhole shot instead of
spherical entrance wound might be created.

b)Terminal energy is the energy of the projectile

when it strikes the target. The energy of the
projectile is affected by three factors such as;
gunpowder content, since the more the
gunpowder, the more the energy will be
produced. Another is the length of the barrel, as the barrel of the firearm becomes longer it
provides and confined a solid mass of expanded gas pushing the bullet down the muzzle. The
third factor is the additional force imparted by the air to accelerate the bullet’s velocity if its
direction goes with the direction of the bullet upon leaving the muzzle point of a gun.

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c)Terminal velocity is the speed of the
bullet upon penetrating the target. This
is governed by four factors such as;
same with terminal energy,
gunpowder content, barrel length
plus type and shape of the bullet.

D)Terminal penetration refers to the

depth of the bullet in the target.
Hence, when the bullet hit the target
perpendicularly, bullet penetration is
deeper in soft target than that of the
hard target.

Skill-building Activities
This is a self-assessment: you have to answer the questions truthfully

3.1Let us test your skill! In this activity, you are going to identify what particular branch of
ballistic is being involved. Write your answer (Internal Ballistics, Exterior Ballistics, or
Terminal Ballistics) in the space provided before the number.
Internal Ballistics 1. Combustion of the gunpowder.
Terminal Ballistics 2. Penetration of the bullet in the target.
Exterior Ballistics 3. Rotation of the bullet in flight.
Exterior Ballistics 4. Pulling of the bullet downward due to the gravity.
Terminal Ballistics 5. Destructive damage of the bullet towards the target.
Exterior Ballistics 6. Velocity of the bullet from the chamber to the muzzle.
Internal Ballistics 7. The sound created at the muzzle end of the barrel of the
firearm after the explosion.
Internal Ballistics 8. Ignition of the primer.
Internal Ballistics 9. Rotation of the bullet inside the barrel.
Exterior Ballistics 10 The curved path of the bullet in flight.

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 3.2 Discus briefly the difference among Internal Ballistics, Exterior Ballistics, and Terminal
Ballistics. Limit your answer to two sentences only.

Internal Ballistics Exterior Ballistics Terminal Ballistics

Internal Ballistics is the If the projectile will be If the projectile has already
motion of the bullet while released outside the firearm been released and it hits the
inside the firearm. So in other that creates movement while target the impact and effect of
words any bullet while it is in flight, towards the target the projectile into the target,
inside of the firearm, that that is what we call as that is what we call as
creates movement it is known Exterior Ballistics. Terminal Ballistics.
as Internal Ballistics.

Check for Understanding

In this activity, I prepared some questions to somehow test your understanding towards
our lesson. .

MULTIPLE CHOICE:
Instructions: Read and understand each question. Write the correct answer in the space provided
before the number.

_B. _1. What do you call the rapid and confined burning of the gunpowder?
A. Percussion C. Detonation
B. Deflagration D. Combustion

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_D. __2. It refers to the movement or the mobility of the bullet.
A. Attitude C. Gyroscopic Action
B. Rotation D. Motion

_D. _3. How fast does the whole process of internal ballistics take from the time the firearm releases its
firing pin, striking the primer, until before the bullet leaves the muzzle of the barrel?
A. 0.0000001min C. 0.000001sec
B. 0.01min D. 0.01sec

_C. 4. Which of the following is not included in the motion of the projectile or bullet?
A. Direct C. Transitional
B. Rotational D. None of these

_C. 5. it refers to the distance within which the shooter or gunner has control of his shots.
A. Range C. Accurate range
B. Terminal accuracy D. All of these

Think about your Learning

Instructions: There are two (2) parts on this activity, first, I would like to know what part of our lesson
you found it easy and difficult to understand and why? And in the second part, will be your self-
evaluation on achieving the learning targets.

B.1. What part of the lesson did

you find easy and difficult to
understand and why? Write it
on the space provided.

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 I think the three Branches of I think Transition Ballistics is the
Ballistics which is the Internal, difficult lesson for me to
What part of the lesson? Exterior, and Terminal ballistics is understand.
the easy part of the lesson to
understand.
It is because I understand directly It is because I was confused
the functions of the three about Transition Ballistics and I
branches of Ballistics, and also as want to know how it works
Why?
I read the lesson I was amazed together with a demonstrated
because there are many features image.
in every branch of ballistics.

B.2. In this part of the activity, I want you to check ✔ learning target you have achieved so far.
⃣⃣✔ I Can define what is Ballistics.
⃣ I Can explain the things happened in the History and personalities involved in the
development of Ballistics.

Q1: What is Gyroscopic Stability?

Answer:
It is the resistance of a rotating body to a change in its plane of rotation. The faster a body spins, the
greater the stability of the body in its particular position or orientation.

Q2:What are the factors affecting the Gyroscopic Stability of the bullet?
Answer:
a.Air resistance
b.Poor quality of ammunition
c.Poor quality of the barrel

The spinning motion, induced by the rifling of the barrel, keeps the bullet stable because of the
gyroscopic effect, the higher the spin, the higher the gyroscopic stabilizing force.

Q3: How many branches are there in the study of ballistics?

Answer:
There are known three (3) branches; Internal, External, and Terminal Ballistics. But further we know
there is another branch that is being studied lately, this refers to “Transitional Ballistics”. This is also
known as INTERMEDIATE BALLISTICS, it studies the projectile's behavior from the time it leaves the
muzzle until the pressure behind the projectile is equalized, so it lies between internal ballistics and
external ballistics. It covers the transient (-short period) nature of the flow of pressure and temperature
of the bullet which exists near the muzzle before it reaches the external ballistics.

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Q4: Does Crowning a Barrel Affect Ballistics?
Answer:
Crowning is the round area of the muzzle. It is designed to moderate the gases to be concentric with
the bullet as it leaves the muzzle. Muzzle damage can change the even concentric flow and will affect
accuracy. Cut down barrels need to be re-crowned to ensure accuracy. Even a shotgun can experience
a bias in shot patterns if the muzzle is not properly crowned.