Ballistic missile
Ballistic Missile
A Ballistic Missile (pronunciation: /bəˈlɪstɪk ˈmɪsaɪl/) is a missile that follows a ballistic trajectory with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during relatively brief periods of flight, and most of its trajectory is unpowered, being governed by gravity and air resistance if in the atmosphere.
Etymology
The term "ballistic" refers to the science of ballistics, which deals with the motion of projectiles. It is derived from the Greek word βάλλειν (ballein), meaning "to throw". The term "missile" comes from the Latin "missilis", meaning "that which can be thrown", and is a common term used to refer to a variety of projectiles.
Related Terms
- Warhead: The part of a missile, projectile, torpedo, rocket, or other munition that contains either the nuclear or thermonuclear system, a high explosive system, chemical or biological agents, or inert materials intended to inflict damage.
- Trajectory: The path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces.
- Gravity: The force that attracts a body towards the centre of the earth, or towards any other physical body having mass.
- Air Resistance: The oppositional force air exerts on a body moving through it.
- Atmosphere: The envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.
- Projectile: Any object thrown into space by the exertion of a force.
- Nuclear Warhead: A warhead that uses nuclear reactions to generate destructive energy.
- Thermonuclear Warhead: A warhead that uses a combination of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion to generate a significantly larger amount of destructive energy than a simple nuclear warhead.
- Chemical Warhead: A warhead that uses chemical reactions to generate destructive energy.
- Biological Warhead: A warhead that uses biological agents to cause disease or death in the target population.
- Inert Warhead: A warhead that does not contain any active destructive elements, often used for training or testing purposes.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ballistic missile
- Wikipedia's article - Ballistic missile
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