The ballistic pendulum was based upon laws of mechanics formulated by which scientist?

The ballistic pendulum is fundamentally rooted in the laws of mechanics, particularly those formulated by Isaac Newton. Newton's laws of motion, especially his second law relating force, mass, and acceleration, provide the framework for understanding how an object in motion (like a projectile) interacts with another body (like the pendulum).

In a ballistic pendulum setup, the motion of the projectile is analyzed through the conservation of momentum, which is directly linked to Newton's laws. When the projectile strikes the pendulum, it embeds into it and they move together, allowing for the determination of the projectile's velocity before impact by analyzing the subsequent motion of the pendulum.

While other scientists contributed significantly to the field of physics and mechanics, Isaac Newton's establishment of key principles governing motion makes him the primary figure associated with the analysis of the ballistic pendulum. This highlights the important role that Newton's work plays in understanding the mechanics behind how the ballistic pendulum operates.