Cannon Firing Reflection

Cannon Construction Design
We used internal combustion, meaning that we placed a barrier with a few holes in between the gas chamber and the barrel. We used Boyle's Gas Law, which states that volume and pressure are indirectly proportional, and thats why we put the barrier in the middle, to magnify the pressure and reduce the volume.

1900s-Present

15 cm sFH 18 Howitzer

Ever since the first beginning trebuchets, cannons have been technologically modified. Take the 15 cm sFH 18 Howitzer for example. It is a German heavy howitzer that was used in World War II. The sFH 18 was the first artillery weapon to have rocket-assisted ammunition, resulting in greater speed and range. Some also had laser-guides to further increase the accuracy. One problem about the sFH 18 was that it was not mobile, unlike tanks. Its muzzle velocity 1690 feet/second and its maximum range was 8 miles. Compared to the first howitzer created, the sFH 18 completely dominates. Since then, technology has proved itself to greatly affect artillery.

1800s

12-pounder Napoleon

Due to the Civil War, new cannons had to be created to dominate the battlefield. One type of cannon that was developed was the 12-pounder Napoleon. It was a shell-gun cannon that shot ball, shell, canister or grapeshot. It replaced a lot of other, weaker cannons that were once used on the battlefield. Some improvements that caused the Napoleon to be so successful was the fact that it was light enough for horses to quickly drag it across the field and that it was strong enough to obliterate forts from a long distance away. Though it is not used anymore in wars, the Napoleon was one of the most powerful cannons that played a key factor in the American Civil War.

Pre-1700s

Ballista

Though they weren’t as technologically advanced like today, cannons have been around for many years and have played an important role in war. The ballista, for example, is an early form of catapult developed by Dionysus of Syracuse. It is basically an arrow firing catapult, though it could modified to catapult large stones. It was mostly constructed of wood and twisted rope. The ballista used spring bundle technology, which allowed it to project lighter objects at higher speed over longer distance. Ballistae were mainly used as siege weapons, so larger creations had to be made. Although larger ones have more force, they were harder to aim and had to be mounted on movable units. Later on, it was modified by Phillip II and his son, Alexander. The ballista eventually spread to the Roman Empire, where it was used by Julius Caesar. Since then, cannons have dramatically developed to become more versatile, powerful, and faster.