We can approximate anything, as long as you have enough terms...

[since9]

"We can approximate anything, as long as you have enough terms." - Smarter Every Day



I can't say I love math. In fact, it's a love-hate relationship. I thought I would have a better chance of getting to do what I love doing -- flying -- if I became an aerospace engineer. Well, aside from Laplace and Fourier transforms, I might have made it. I graduated with a degree in Finance, instead, albeit with 100% of my electives in engineering, math, and science. But I still flew for 20 years and loved (nearly) every minute of it. Along the way, I've found many different ways to use math to find far better answers than merely guessing at it.

What math can you bring to the table with respect to shooting? Do you have any equation-based (non-tabular) way of modeling things, such as ballistics data, in an accurate and precise manner?

[Hoganbeg]

Yes, I think of the Fourier series in terms of phase cancellation or augmentation.

[gasmitty]

I'm a career test engineer - think "measurement scientist" - and a consummate number cruncher. Shooting action pistol competitively and both tactical and precision rimfire rifle, I have yet to need more than high school algebra and trig to achieve hits on target. When I delve into the dynamics of barrel vibrations and their effects on practical accuracy, an FFT analysis can help me understand what's happening, but it doesn't get any more sophisticated than that.

[since9]

I'm a career test engineer - think "measurement scientist" - and a consummate number cruncher. Shooting action pistol competitively and both tactical and precision rimfire rifle, I have yet to need more than high school algebra and trig to achieve hits on target. When I delve into the dynamics of barrel vibrations and their effects on practical accuracy, an FFT analysis can help me understand what's happening, but it doesn't get any more sophisticated than that.

Cool! I dug out some shock wave constructs from my old texts. I'm trying to figure out if it's even possible to design a largely volume-independent shock wave cancellation device for use a suppressor. If successful, any shock wave emanating from a barrel, whether low or volume, would be be largely attenuated.