Post by Alleyway Jack on Mar 19, 2011 1:35:25 GMT -5
I have noticed that some people don't understand how things work, so I decided to put together a crash course in the physics of weapons. And I will try to be brief.
I will go ahead and explain things in scientific terms, then explain them in application. Like Captain Kirk from Star Trek. See, I just did it. There are, however, some things will need technical jargon. It's just how it has to be. Fortunately, it won't be to advanced, and everybody should be fine. we'll start with the jargon, then apply it to weapon scenarios.
1: Lever(Tool).
A lever is used to convert a small force into a large force. An example is a see-saw. Force is applied to one end, and a greater force results on the other end. The pivot point the middle is what causes the force to build. This is called a fulcrum. There are, however, three classifications of lever, and the class is based on the position of the lever. If it is between the force and the result, it is a class 1. An example is a pair of scissors, or a see-saw.
If the fulcrum is on one end, then the result, then the force, it is a class 2. Like a wheelbarrow. If the fulcrum is followed by the result, then the force, it is a class 3, like a pair of tweezers.
2: Wedge(Tool).
A wedge is a hard object to be driven into another object, to split the one into two.
An example is an axe head.
3: Shearing(Force).
A sheering force is a ripping or tearing force. The object causing the divide pushes the material aside in parallel lines.
Like a pair of scissors cutting some construction paper.
Now, what can we do with this? Well, let's take a wedge, a big old wedge made of flint, sharpened, and tied to a stick, perpendicular to the stick. If you were to bring the wedge down on something, you would be applying force from the lever, not just your own strength. The force is applied where you hold it, the fulcrum is the turn, and the result is the tip of the flint blade. The flint is then brought down into the wood, driven between it, splitting it.
And we have an axe! An axe is a simple class 2 lever, and a wedge!
A sword works by shearing with the blade, and, again, as a class 2 lever. Push with your arm, power with the handle, and blade, and result with the blade. However, these actions alone are not enough to do much damage, let alone break armor! A weapon needs weight. A hollow sword, while light weight, and easy to swing with greater force, would not be more effective then a sword made of heavy metal, swung with an equal amount of force to counter-balance the weight, so it would swing as fast as the hollow sword. Swing with all your strength, and a hollow sword = swing with more than all your strength in a equal amount with a heavy sword. What you need in a sword is balance. The world's best swords are balanced. Even a great sword is not as heavy as it could be. Weight must be balanced so it is lift able, but heavy enough to hit hard.The exact same thing apply to an axe, and even a bullet. If it isn't heavy enough, it's trajectory will be diverted, but if it's too light, it will sink. All weapons must be balanced carefully, or they are worth nothing more than scrap metal.
A scythe is a different matter. A lot of people like using scythes, but, there is a problem. Most people think scythes are used to cut people along the path of the blade, and they could not be more wrong. A scythe is a tool, that can be used as a weapon. To use one, you place it BEHIND the wheat, and pull towards you, using it as a wedge to cut it. The only reason the grim reaper uses a scythe, is because he is quite literally harvesting the souls for the afterlife.
A spear works as a Wedge, and not a lever. That is special for a weapon, but it does mean a spear wielder will do less damage. However, a spear has a lot of bonuses, like reach, and it pierces. The spear can be driven into even a sturdy suit of armor, and rip right through it. Then, the flesh doesn't provide much resistance, and the spear can be driven deeper. You see, the ENTIRE weight behind the spear is focused into one super powerful point, and when it hits the target, ALL the force is applied, and this is usually more than enough to begin shearing the armor. With a spear, you also put your hips more into the equation, so when you stab, if you turn a bit, you provide an additional deal of centrifugal force. And an additional step gives you some momentum for the lunge, making the mean force even greater.
Bow and Arrows come in two types, Long and Short.
A bow works by drawing a string back, to a point where the tension in the string reaches a point where the force will be transferred to the arrow, resulting in flight. The point where the transfer can happen is anywhere when the bowstring is not at rest. However, it is only useful when the string is drawn at least 1.5 the length of the bow back. The farther the draw, the farther and faster the flight. However, draw it back too far and the wood snaps.
The difference between the bow comes in size. A shortbow does not bend nearly as much as a long bow. It is meant for short range firing, quickly.
A longbow can bend, allowing the string to go farther back, these weapons are meant for launching arrows across fields, not next to somebody. A longbow is not nearly as powerful at close range, and a shortbow is weak at a distance. I doubt most of you will use bows, when you can just use magic.
Well, that's all I can think of for now.
I'll add more later.
I will go ahead and explain things in scientific terms, then explain them in application. Like Captain Kirk from Star Trek. See, I just did it. There are, however, some things will need technical jargon. It's just how it has to be. Fortunately, it won't be to advanced, and everybody should be fine. we'll start with the jargon, then apply it to weapon scenarios.
1: Lever(Tool).
A lever is used to convert a small force into a large force. An example is a see-saw. Force is applied to one end, and a greater force results on the other end. The pivot point the middle is what causes the force to build. This is called a fulcrum. There are, however, three classifications of lever, and the class is based on the position of the lever. If it is between the force and the result, it is a class 1. An example is a pair of scissors, or a see-saw.
If the fulcrum is on one end, then the result, then the force, it is a class 2. Like a wheelbarrow. If the fulcrum is followed by the result, then the force, it is a class 3, like a pair of tweezers.
2: Wedge(Tool).
A wedge is a hard object to be driven into another object, to split the one into two.
An example is an axe head.
3: Shearing(Force).
A sheering force is a ripping or tearing force. The object causing the divide pushes the material aside in parallel lines.
Like a pair of scissors cutting some construction paper.
Now, what can we do with this? Well, let's take a wedge, a big old wedge made of flint, sharpened, and tied to a stick, perpendicular to the stick. If you were to bring the wedge down on something, you would be applying force from the lever, not just your own strength. The force is applied where you hold it, the fulcrum is the turn, and the result is the tip of the flint blade. The flint is then brought down into the wood, driven between it, splitting it.
And we have an axe! An axe is a simple class 2 lever, and a wedge!
A sword works by shearing with the blade, and, again, as a class 2 lever. Push with your arm, power with the handle, and blade, and result with the blade. However, these actions alone are not enough to do much damage, let alone break armor! A weapon needs weight. A hollow sword, while light weight, and easy to swing with greater force, would not be more effective then a sword made of heavy metal, swung with an equal amount of force to counter-balance the weight, so it would swing as fast as the hollow sword. Swing with all your strength, and a hollow sword = swing with more than all your strength in a equal amount with a heavy sword. What you need in a sword is balance. The world's best swords are balanced. Even a great sword is not as heavy as it could be. Weight must be balanced so it is lift able, but heavy enough to hit hard.The exact same thing apply to an axe, and even a bullet. If it isn't heavy enough, it's trajectory will be diverted, but if it's too light, it will sink. All weapons must be balanced carefully, or they are worth nothing more than scrap metal.
A scythe is a different matter. A lot of people like using scythes, but, there is a problem. Most people think scythes are used to cut people along the path of the blade, and they could not be more wrong. A scythe is a tool, that can be used as a weapon. To use one, you place it BEHIND the wheat, and pull towards you, using it as a wedge to cut it. The only reason the grim reaper uses a scythe, is because he is quite literally harvesting the souls for the afterlife.
A spear works as a Wedge, and not a lever. That is special for a weapon, but it does mean a spear wielder will do less damage. However, a spear has a lot of bonuses, like reach, and it pierces. The spear can be driven into even a sturdy suit of armor, and rip right through it. Then, the flesh doesn't provide much resistance, and the spear can be driven deeper. You see, the ENTIRE weight behind the spear is focused into one super powerful point, and when it hits the target, ALL the force is applied, and this is usually more than enough to begin shearing the armor. With a spear, you also put your hips more into the equation, so when you stab, if you turn a bit, you provide an additional deal of centrifugal force. And an additional step gives you some momentum for the lunge, making the mean force even greater.
Bow and Arrows come in two types, Long and Short.
A bow works by drawing a string back, to a point where the tension in the string reaches a point where the force will be transferred to the arrow, resulting in flight. The point where the transfer can happen is anywhere when the bowstring is not at rest. However, it is only useful when the string is drawn at least 1.5 the length of the bow back. The farther the draw, the farther and faster the flight. However, draw it back too far and the wood snaps.
The difference between the bow comes in size. A shortbow does not bend nearly as much as a long bow. It is meant for short range firing, quickly.
A longbow can bend, allowing the string to go farther back, these weapons are meant for launching arrows across fields, not next to somebody. A longbow is not nearly as powerful at close range, and a shortbow is weak at a distance. I doubt most of you will use bows, when you can just use magic.
Well, that's all I can think of for now.
I'll add more later.