64 Experiments npon Gitnpowder. 



pose the full resistance to have begun so near as two feet 

 from the mouth of the piece ; and in all cases where the 

 velocities were less, the effect of the resistance was less 

 in a much greater proportion ; and even in- this instance 

 there is reason to think that the diminution of the ve- 

 locity, as we have determined it, is too great ; for the 

 flame of gunpowder expands with such an amazing 

 rapidity that it is scarcely to be supposed but that it 

 follows the bullet and continues to act upon it more 

 than two feet, or even four feet, from the gun, and when 

 the velocity of the bullet is less, its action upon it must 

 be sensible at a still greater distance. 



With 218 grains of powder, the recoil appears to have 

 been very uniform ; but if the velocities of the bullets 

 are determined from the recoil in the 40th and seven fol- 

 lowing experiments, when this charge was made use of, 

 and from the recoil without a bullet in the yad and 73d 

 experiments, the velocities will turn out considerably 

 too small, as we shall see by making the computation. 



Veut at o. Vent at 1.3. 



[ 40th exp. was 18. and in the 43d exp. it was 1S.3 



The recoil I 41st 17.71 44th 18.35 



in the 1 42d 17.91 45th 18.35 



147th 18.1 46th 18.35 



4 )71-72 4 )73-35 



Means = 17.93 and 18.34 



And in the yid and 73d experiments the recoil, with 

 the same charge without a bullet, was 8.72 and 8.47 = 

 8.595 at a medium ; the velocities therefore turn out, 



Vent at o. Vent at 1.3. 



By the recoil 1105 1153 



instead of 1225 and 1276 as they were shown by the pend. 



The diff. 120 and 123 feet in a second amounts to 

 near one twelfth part of the whole velocity. 



