P5_12 Thermal Emissions of Projectiles

Abstract

This article investigates estimating the velocity and kinetic energy of a projectile, based on the wavelength of radiation emitted due to frictional heating caused by atmospheric drag. An 81kg sphere of tungsten emitting light with a wavelength of approximately 480nm is found to have a velocity of 90km∙s^-1 and hence kinetic energy of 330GJ.