ballistics
Ballistics is the study of how things move through the air when they're shot or thrown.
You might hear people talking about ballistics in relation to crime scenes or forensic science. This usually means they're trying to figure out where a bullet came from, and which way it was headed when it hit its target. They'll use special calculations and computer programs to track the trajectory of the bullet, taking into account things like gravity, air resistance, and the type of gun that fired it. Ballistics experts might also be called in to investigate accidents or attacks where a weapon is involved, so they can help piece together what happened.
How common is "ballistics"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
noun
The science of objects that predominantly fly under the effects of gravity, momentum and atmospheric drag, and dealing with details of their behaviour at the origin and destination of their flight, as of bullets or missiles or rockets.
Real examples of "ballistics" in context
