Well, I have a big-time apology to make to Adrian. When I screw up, I
don't fool around. Virtually every argument I presented in my earlier
note (Subject 1859) was flawed. Sorry about that, fella. Next time,
I'll make sure I pick a shoe of a different flavor before I eat it. :-)
To recap:
> > You're picking nits, Adrian. Assume the following symbols:
> > m = mass of the gauss needle
> > a = acceleration of the needle at the barrel mouth
> > M = mass of the gauss rifle
> > A = acceleration of the rifle in the opposite direction
> v = velocity of the gauss needle
> V = velocity of the rifle
> > If ma=F->, then MA=<-F, right? By definition, "Momentum" is the magnitude
> > of F, without the vector component (staight out of Halliday & Resnick's
> > "Fundanemtals of Physics").
>
> Either you've misread "Fundamentals of Physics", or Halliday & Resnick are
> wrong, or the universe has changed since I learnt physics. Momentum is a
> vector. That's how momentum is conserved. Before firing, momentum of rifle
> = momentum of needle = 0. After firing, momentum of rifle = MV, momentum of
> needle = mv, MV = -mv, so MV + mv = 0.
>
> Force is also a vector. It's rate of change of momentum. If MV = -mv at any
> time up to when the needle leaves the barrel, and MV and mv have had the same
> amount of time in which to change, then F = -f.
Well, the correct answer is the obvious one; the universe has changed!
No, seriously, I misread Halliday & Resnick. I'm sorry. It's been a
long time since college physics classes (too damn long, obviously).
> > These values are slightly off (you've listed the UNLOADED wt. of the M-16
> > and the slug velocity is a little low for a std. DoD issue M193 ball round),
> > but I accept your point.
>
> Those values were taken straight from the book, and the weight I quoted was
> for a M-16 with a 30-round magazine. Don't blame me if Kevin Dockery got
> them wrong; give us the right figures!
The loaded weight for the M16A1 combat rifle (w/ loaded 30 rnd. clip)
is 3.72 Kg. (see, I said you were close). The listed weight for the
standard NATO 5.56mm cartridge slug (designated M193 by U.S. Army)
is 56 +/- 2 grains, which translates to 3.629 +/- 0.13 grams.
Now my face is even redder. I didn't realize that, in your note, the
values on the left were for the MT assault rifle and the values in
parenthesis were for the M-16. You mentioned something about "brackets"
and I couldn't find any (to an American, these "[]" are brackets), so
I just assumed you'd left something out. In re-reading your note, I see
that your values are correct (so close to the ones in my references that
quibbles over the difference are pointless).
> > > => A gauss rifle is no more a low recoil weapon than an assault rifle.
> >
> > Let's qualify that: it's no more low recoil that a 5.56mm assault rifle.
> > I don't argue this, ever. The flaw in your argument is assuming that the
> > 5.56mm assault rifle IS NOT ALSO A LOW RECOIL WEAPON.
>
> So in TDR, put gauss rifles and 5mm assault rifles in the same recoil class.
We intend to, I promise.
> > The 5.56mm M-16 is about in the middle, as is the
> > gauss rifle (although tending slightly towards the higher end). This
> > pretty definitely puts both of them in the "Low Recoil" catagory, at
> > least by MT combat standards.
>
> So, 5mm assault rifles and gauss rifles are low recoil; 7mm assault rifles
> are medium recoil; 5mm pistols are very low recoil. If anyone is really
> interested, I'll do similar sums for 9mm pistols, 7mm bolt-action rifles,
> and SMG's.
Definitely interested. If we provided data, how many would you be
willing to crank out for us?
> > One last point, the MT Imperial Encyclopedia (pg. 71) states that standard
> > equipment for the gauss rifle includes gyrostabilization. If that addition
> > doesn't make it "Low Recoil", then I don't know what does.
>
> Doesn't the ACR also have that? Is the ACR also low recoil?
Yah, the ACR also has gyros. Boy, I'm sure consistent. When I make
mistakes, I make 'em EVERYWHERE. :-) However, given that the ACR is
a 7mm (and 9mm) weapon, apparently the in-line recoil is sufficient
to put it into the "Medium" range.
Later,
Mark F. Cook
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Hewlett-Packard - Interface Technology Operation
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