Ballistic coefficient

A selection of bullets with different shapes, and hence, different ballistic coefficients.

In ballistics, the ballistic coefficient (BC, Cb) of a body is a measure of its ability to overcome air resistance in flight.[1] It is inversely proportional to the negative acceleration: a high number indicates a low negative acceleration—the drag on the body is small in proportion to its mass. BC can be expressed with the units kilograms per square meter (kg/m2) or pounds per square inch (lb/in2) (where 1 lb/in2 corresponds to 703.069581 kg/m2).

  1. ^ Courtney, Michael; Courtney, Amy (2007). "The Truth About Ballistic Coefficients". arXiv:0705.0389 [physics.pop-ph].