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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, regarding velocity of the air in bullet firing by Denis Papin

Reference number: CLP/18i/60

Date: 1687

Description

Papin states that previously he had given a computation of the swiftness of a bullet driven by the whole pressure of the atmosphere without explaining the calculation, and wishes to rectify this. He presents the problem: 'The length and bore of a barrell being given, and the weight of a bullet fitted to it; to find out, what velocity must be acquired by the sayd bullet being driven through the sayd barrill by the whole pressure of the atmosphere.' He shares his hypothesis, two propositions and three corollaries.

Subject: Physics / Ballistics

Read to the Royal Society on 27 July 1687

Reference number
CLP/18i/60
Earliest possible date
1687
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
4 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

Denis Papin

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Citation

Denis Papin, Paper, regarding velocity of the air in bullet firing by Denis Papin, 1687, CLP/18i/60, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_18i_60/paper-regarding-velocity-of-the-air-in-bullet-firing-by-denis-papin, accessed on 12 March 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_18i_60/paper-regarding-velocity-of-the-air-in-bullet-firing-by-denis-papin

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  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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