Final answer:
All the given factors—barrel length, propellant type, and projectile weight—are factors of exterior ballistics, affecting the projectile after it leaves the gun.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors of exterior ballistics are critical in determining the trajectory and impact of a projectile once it leaves the barrel of a gun. Exterior ballistics is influenced by a variety of factors, all of which are important:
- Barrel length - Affects the velocity of the projectile as it exits the gun due to differing amounts of friction and time for the propellant to burn.
- Propellant type - Different propellants can burn at various rates and temperatures, thereby affecting the speed and stability of the projectile.
- Projectile weight - Heavier projectiles tend to have a flatter trajectory and are less affected by wind but require more propellant energy to achieve the same muzzle velocity as lighter projectiles.
In conclusion, the correct answer to the question 'Which of the following is a factor of exterior ballistics?' is (d) All of the above, as these are all factors that can significantly influence a projectile's behavior after it has left the gun.