Final answer:
A mortar is a type of indirect fire weapon that fires at high-arcing trajectories. Physics plays a crucial role in understanding the operation of these weapons, including calculations for velocity, acceleration, and force as demonstrated in examples of fireworks shells, artillery shells, and ICBMs.
Step-by-step explanation:
An indirect fire weapon that fires shells at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories is typically known as a mortar. These weapons use a combination of projectile size, angle of launch, and propellant charge to determine the range and trajectory of the shells they fire. Mortars and similar indirect-fire weapons play a significant role in military history and applications.
For example, a 2.50-kg fireworks shell fired straight up from a mortar achieves certain physics phenomena. When the shell reaches a height of 110 meters without air resistance, we can calculate its initial velocity, average acceleration within the mortar tube, and the average force applied during its ascent. In contrast, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or the Space Shuttle is subject to different forces and achieves considerably higher velocities and acceleration due to its powerful propulsion systems and prolonged burn times.
Understanding these concepts is critical in the realm of physics where the practical application of motion, forces, and energy can be observed in military technology, such as the recoil experienced by a battleship firing a heavy artillery shell or the intricate design of ICBMs and spacecrafts.