Artillerymen and mathematicians: Forest Ray Moulton and changes in American exterior ballistics, 1885-1934 (Q643312)

The author traces part of the evolution of flow United States mathematicians and artillerymen dealt with ballistic problems from 1885 to 1934. In particular, he looks at two waves of reforming the mathematical basis for exterior ballistic. The first wave predates World War I and the second wave was brought about by Worl War I. The main protagonist in the paper is Forest Ray Moulton who was responsible for organising and overseeing the second wave of reform in exterior ballistic theory during and after World Ware I. Moulton introduces numerical methods into the solution of the ballistic differential equations and also places great emphasis on logical foundation and mathematical rigour.