Media, News, Publishing: News update 27/05/2020 (883215)

Each of the components of gunpowder plays a special role in its composition. Sulfur is highly flammable and burns, releasing large amounts of heat. Saltpeter releases a lot of oxygen when burned. High temperature and oxygen are the conditions for the rapid combustion of coal. Such a mixture does not need oxygen from the air during combustion, which means that it can occur in a closed space completely filled with this mixture. If gunpowder is placed in a shell and ignited through a small hole, then it will instantly burn out - an explosion, and the resulting gases will break this shell. This property was used by the Chinese, who stuffed hollow cast-iron balls with holes for incendiary cords with gunpowder. The cords were set on fire, the balls were thrown out of a special throwing machine and flew with a heavy rumble at the enemy, smoking "tails" fluttering in the wind. If the timing was correct, then the cords burned out at the very moment when the shells were at the location of the enemy, and their fragments flew in different directions, bringing death and horror. The Chinese called such shells "black dragons", later the Europeans would call them bombs.

And what happens if the gunpowder shell is not solid, if, as in the case of Berthold Schwartz, there is a lid on the gunpowder container? Gases act uniformly on all walls of the container, but only one of them - the lid - is movable. So they will push her out. If you bring the lid closer to the gunpowder so that there is practically no free air space between them, then the lid turns into a projectile, gunpowder into a charge for throwing it, and the container itself into a firearm. But it all just seems so simple. Hundreds of years passed before people understood: gunpowder can not only explode - it can be made by the force of an explosion to throw shells over long distances.

This weapon looked different - a person only groped for its optimal shape. In 1326, the scientist and lawyer Walter de Milemet wrote an extensive treatise - a guide for the young heir to the English crown, the future King Edward III. One of the bright illustrations placed in the manuscript depicts the gates of the fortress, apparently besieged. In front of the gate there is something like a table, and on it is a pear-shaped vessel with an arrow inserted into it. Next to the table is a knight setting fire to the charge inside the vessel. This miniature is the oldest depiction of firearms known in Europe.

There were other forms of early firearms, most commonly short tubes with cylindrical or conical bores (the internal volume of the barrel). Sometimes these tubes were bound with hoops so that they would not burst when fired.

Modern firearms are usually divided into artillery and hand, small arms. Artillery operates over long distances, strikes a wide variety of targets, including closed, invisible ones, its guns are served by several people. Small arms - mostly individual, used to destroy open targets, primarily enemy manpower. A modern cannon in appearance does not at all resemble a pistol or machine gun. In the 14th century, artillery pieces and handguns differed only in size, weight and caliber (barrel diameter). Even the names were similar: large guns that pierced the fortress walls with huge stone cannon balls were called bombards, and small hand-held barrels were called bombardells.

Media, News, Publishing

четверг, 28 мая 2020 г.

News update 27/05/2020 (883215)

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четверг, 28 мая 2020 г.

News update 27/05/2020 (883215)

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четверг, 28 мая 2020 г.