Math Component of Cannon

h = -16t²+v₀t+h₀

h= height at a certain time

t= time the cannonball is in the air

v0= initial velocity

h0= starting height

This equation can be used to determine how long an object is in the air, its maximum height, or its initial velocity. In this case, the variables can be used to solve the following problems:

A cannonball is shot upward from the upper deck of a fort with an initial velocity of 192 feet per second.  The deck is 32 feet above the ground.

 1. How high does the cannonball go? 608 feet
2. How long is the cannonball in the air? 12.15 seconds

h= -16t²+192t+32

1.    Vertex (t)=_-b         v₀ or b= 192 f/s      a= -16

            2a

t= -(192)/ 2(-16)= 6

h= -16(6)²+192(6)+32

h= -576+1152+32

h=608 ft.

2.     The quadratic equation can be used to plug in the numbers.

 

          ≈12.15 seconds

         

Angle Justification

Using my knowledge of geometric angles and their functions, I began to narrow down my search for the "perfect" angle at which to launch an object. A 90 degree angle would have the effect of shooting an object straight up. A 0 (or 180) degree angle would roll an object straight along the ground with very little gain. Therefore, the perfect angle seemed to be an angle exactly halfway in between each of these measurements. A 45 degree angle would get the maximum distance while maintaining the greatest height possible without effect on the horizontal distance.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Ethical Consequences

WMD

Weapons of mass destruction- any weapon created to harm a significant number of humans or cause massive damage to buildings, natural structures, or the atmosphere

Weapons of mass destruction can be either chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear
It has never been ethical to create any weapon that causes harm to other human beings. However, throughout history, ethics have been frequently ignored in order to advance a certain society. Powers are given to the strongest kingdom and truth is determined by the victor. Therefore, even today, the struggle for power internationally requires the use of force. As demonstrated in the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, nations often struggle to see who can build the biggest, strongest weapons before the other. The Great Space Race was also a battle to put the first person in space and then on the moon.

Although weapons, specifically weapons of mass destruction, are not ethical, their development is inevitable. If one nation doesn't match another's technology, they are viewed as inferior. Iran's nuclear program threatens to dismantle the structure of the Middle East. Some countries, like Iran, seek to build weapons of mass destruction as a threat or a way to carry out their own efforts for dominance.

The most accurate way to describe the development of such horrible weapons is "fighting fire with fire". Everyone seems to think that to fight an evil thing, the only solution is to overcome them with the same evil force. This is entirely untrue and has resulted in countless deaths throughout the world's history. As I previously stated, there is no way to stop these programs, as the modern world requires that a nation has a means to project their willpower. Unfortunately, that willpower is often misinterpreted by those in power, who seem to think that weapons and force are the only ways to stop the same evils they are creating. The creation of these weapons started a cycle that will never end: death, revenge, and rivalries.

"A Long Way Gone" and Ethics

In an indirect way, the weapons used in the conflict in Sierra Leone were a form of weapons of mass destruction. Although they weren't used to destroy natural structures and monumental man-made objects, the guns given to child soldiers saw the deaths of over 50,000 people and the disfiguration of many more. As Ishmael stated in his memoir the war touched the lives of everyone in the country in some way, which means that everyone was affected by those weapons.




The weapons also forced the participation of countless child soldiers, who are still undergoing rehabilitation because of the horrors they have witnessed. The AK-47, the gun of choice for both sides of this war, isn't a weapon of mass destruction by definition. However, its effect could certainly classify it's use as one. The horrifying result of the armed child soldiers has not only killed many people, but it has also destroyed more souls. The boys were given no choice but to ruin their own lives and lives of others by being brainwashed. The drugs blunted their feelings, but had only a temporary effect. After the numbness went away, the soldiers' lives were changed forever by the terrible deeds they had done.

A WMD, or weapon of mass destruction is oftenonly considered to be one of four things: chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear. In my opinion, their should be one more classification of a weapon of mass destruction, one that is even deadlier than the rest and with lasting impressions: psychological.

Social Impacts of Cannons

The end of the Hundred Years War between Britain and France marked a huge turning point in how wars are fought. Before this war, the nobility in a country would have the largest effect on the outcome of the war. However, after the war was over, wars were decided  by armed peasants in large numbers, not the nobility fighting for their own country. The standardization of the cannon and other revolutionary weapons meant that destruction could be wrought by whoever had the most peasants behind them.

This means that monarchies had to give way to the demands of the people, as revolts became harder to crush. A simple coordinated widespread revolt by peasants with access to cannons and other weapons would instantly reform their government. In a way, this standardization of firearms gave birth to more representative governments throughout the world. If the government doesn't meet the demands of the people in the modern world, there could be serious consequences due to the creation of weapons of mass destruction and their accessibility. In contrast, before this time, governments were autocratic and could simply rely on the military to deal with any rebellion within society.

The Crimean War in the 1800s was a conflict between Britain/France and Russia over the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was a vast kingdom that was dominant in the area until the beginning of its decline. All it needed to crumble apart and give way to new powers was a military conflict. The period between the end of the Crimean War and the end of World War I (1856-1918) just about marked the end of the Ottoman Empire. What played the biggest role in its decline? New technology, specifically weapons. The Ottoman Empire, although still large at the time of its end, was not very militarily advanced and couldn't survive the conflicts that disturbed Europe throughout World War I.

Economic Impacts

In reality, everything comes down to money. New technology requires extensive research, experimentation, and sufficient funding. Cannons have been no different. Some technologies can have huge benefits and that will quickly compensate for the funding. The invention of cannons marked the beginning of a revolution. The cannon has caused the birth and the death of a number of civilizations, while wreaking havoc on innocent people. The cannon has far outweighed its cons by its pros as far as technological development in the last 500 years. However, the use of these cannons as a destruction mechanism is highly unethical. As these firearms are both well-intentioned and economical, they should only be used in times of desperation.

There is a high demand for advanced weapons in this world. Every nation wants to be above the next and have the weapons to prove it. Of course, these weapons could help a nation in time of need, but it will also hurt another as a result. Cannons used to be built by those who used them, but that changed since the creation of ironworks companies. Today, whoever comes up with the cheapest, most effective design will get to create a whole line of weapons for the armed forces.

Ultimately, in the perspective of past world leaders, the cost of these cannons were overruled by the wealth that could be acquired through the domination of other societies.

Works Cited

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          "List of Cannon Projectiles." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cannon_projectiles>.

          "Medieval Cannon." Medieval Reenactment. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://www.themcs.org/weaponry/cannon/cannon.htm>.

             

          "Firearms." UW Departments Web Server. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/miltech/firearms.htm>.

          "The "Dictator" Cannon - Petersburg, VA, 1864 :: Artillery Units :: American Civil War Pictures." The American Civil War Pictures Database - Civil War Photos and Images. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://www.civilwar-pictures.com/g/artillery-cannons/the_dictator_cannon>.

          "The Dictator Mortar - CivilWarWiki." Main Page - CivilWarWiki. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://civilwarwiki.net/wiki/The_Dictator_Mortar>.

          "Gases - Boyle's Law, Charles's Law, Gay-Lussac's Law, Combined Gas Law, Ideal Gas Law, Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures, Properties of Common Gases." Welcome to Mr. Everett's Web Page. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://www.mrteverett.com/Chemistry/gases/index.asp>.

          "M61 Vulcan." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M61_Vulcan>.

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          "Mallet's Mortar." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallet's_Mortar>.