There remained for consideration merely the question of powders. The public awaited with interest its final decision. The size of the projectile², the length of the cannon³ being settled, what would be the quantity of powder necessary to produce impulsion?

It is generally asserted that gunpowder⁴ was invented in the fourteenth century by the monk⁵ Schwartz, who paid for his grand discovery with his life. It is, however, pretty well proved that this story ought to be ranked among the legends of the middle ages. Gunpowder was not invented by any one; it was the lineal successor of the Greek fire, which, like itself, was composed of sulfur⁶ and saltpeter. Few persons are acquainted with the mechanical power of gunpowder. Now this is precisely⁷ what is necessary to be understood in order to comprehend the importance of the question submitted to the committee.

A litre of gunpowder weighs about two pounds; during combustion⁸ it produces 400 litres of gas. This gas, on being liberated⁹ and acted upon by temperature raised to 2,400 degrees, occupies a space of 4,000 litres: consequently the volume of powder is to the volume of gas produced by its combustion as 1 to 4,000. One may judge, therefore, of the tremendous pressure on this gas when compressed within a space 4,000 times too confined. All this was, of course, well known to the members of the committee when they met on the following evening.

The first speaker on this occasion was Major Elphinstone, who had been the director of the gunpowder factories during the war.

“Gentlemen,” said this distinguished¹⁰ chemist, “I begin with some figures which will serve as the basis of our calculation. The old 24-pounder shot required for its discharge sixteen pounds of powder.”

点击收听单词发音  

1 mere
adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过
参考例句：
That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。 It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

2 projectile
n.投射物，发射体；adj.向前开进的；推进的；抛掷的
参考例句：
The vertical and horizontal motions of a projectile can be treated independently.抛射体的竖直方向和水平方向的运动能够分开来处理。 Have you altered the plans of the projectile as the telegram suggests?你已经按照电报的要求修改炮弹图样了吗?

3 cannon
n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮
参考例句：
The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。 The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。

4 gunpowder
n.火药
参考例句：
Gunpowder was introduced into Europe during the first half of the 14th century.在14世纪上半叶，火药传入欧洲。 This statement has a strong smell of gunpowder.这是一篇充满火药味的声明。

5 monk
n.和尚，僧侣，修道士
参考例句：
The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。 Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。

6 sulfur
n.硫，硫磺（=sulphur）
参考例句：
Sulfur emissions from steel mills become acid rain.炼钢厂排放出的硫形成了酸雨。 Burning may produce sulfur oxides.燃烧可能会产生硫氧化物。

7 precisely
adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地
参考例句：
It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。 The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

8 combustion
n.燃烧；氧化；骚动
参考例句：
We might be tempted to think of combustion.我们也许会联想到氧化。 The smoke formed by their combustion is negligible.由它燃烧所生成的烟是可忽略的。

9 liberated
a.无拘束的，放纵的
参考例句：
The city was liberated by the advancing army. 军队向前挺进，解放了那座城市。 The heat brings about a chemical reaction, and oxygen is liberated. 热量引起化学反应，释放出氧气。

10 distinguished
adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的
参考例句：
Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。 A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

11 depositions
沉积（物）( deposition的名词复数 )； （在法庭上的）宣誓作证； 处置； 罢免
参考例句：
The safety problems are more severe for low-pressure depositions because the processes often use concentrated gases. 对于低压淀积来说安全性问题更为突出，因为这种工艺通常使用高浓度的气体。 The chief method is to take depositions of parties and witnesses. 主要的方法是录取当事人和证人的宣誓证言。 来自口语例句

12 artillery
n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)
参考例句：
This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。 The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

13 sufficiently
adv.足够地，充分地
参考例句：
It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。 The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。

14 propensities
n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 )
参考例句：
This paper regarded AFT as a criterion to estimate slagging propensities. 文中以灰熔点作为判断煤灰结渣倾向的标准。 来自互联网 Our results demonstrate that different types of authoritarian regime face different propensities to develop toward democracy. 本文研究结果显示，不同的威权主义政体所面对的民主发展倾向是不同的。 来自互联网

15 statistical
adj.统计的，统计学的
参考例句：
He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table.他用统计表显示价格的波动。 They're making detailed statistical analysis.他们正在做具体的统计分析。

16 destined
adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的
参考例句：
It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。 The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

17 chestnuts
n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马
参考例句：
A man in the street was selling bags of hot chestnuts. 街上有个男人在卖一包包热栗子。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Talk of chestnuts loosened the tongue of this inarticulate young man. 因为栗子，正苦无话可说的年青人，得到同情他的人了。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

18 willow
n.柳树
参考例句：
The river was sparsely lined with willow trees.河边疏疏落落有几棵柳树。 The willow's shadow falls on the lake.垂柳的影子倒映在湖面上。

19 charcoal
n.炭，木炭，生物炭
参考例句：
We need to get some more charcoal for the barbecue.我们烧烤需要更多的碳。 Charcoal is used to filter water.木炭是用来过滤水的。

20 aloof
adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的
参考例句：
Never stand aloof from the masses.千万不可脱离群众。 On the evening the girl kept herself timidly aloof from the crowd.这小女孩在晚会上一直胆怯地远离人群。

21 unlimited
adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的
参考例句：
They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。 There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

22 stigmatizing
v.使受耻辱，指责，污辱( stigmatize的现在分词 )
参考例句：
Laing regards the concept of mental illness as both unscientific and stigmatizing. 菜恩认为精神病的概念是不科学的和诬蔑性的。 来自辞典例句 The existing social benefits are considered to be stigmatizing and repressive. 现存的社会福利被指责为是无价值的、残暴的。 来自互联网

23 cellular
adj.移动的；细胞的，由细胞组成的
参考例句：
She has a cellular telephone in her car.她的汽车里有一部无线通讯电话机。 Many people use cellular materials as sensitive elements in hygrometers.很多人用蜂窝状的材料作为测量温度的传感元件。

24 eminently
adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地
参考例句：
She seems eminently suitable for the job. 她看来非常适合这个工作。 It was an eminently respectable boarding school. 这是所非常好的寄宿学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 combustible
a. 易燃的,可燃的; n. 易燃物,可燃物
参考例句：
Don't smoke near combustible materials. 别在易燃的材料附近吸烟。 We mustn't take combustible goods aboard. 我们不可带易燃品上车。

26 plunging
adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降
参考例句：
War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发，生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 projectiles
n.抛射体( projectile的名词复数 )；（炮弹、子弹等）射弹，（火箭等）自动推进的武器
参考例句：
These differences are connected with the strong absorption of the composite projectiles. 这些差别与复杂的入射粒子的强烈吸收有关。 来自辞典例句 Projectiles became more important because cannons could now fire balls over hundreds or yards. 抛射体变得更加重要，因为人们已能用大炮把炮弹射到几百码的距离之外。 来自辞典例句

28 velocity
n.速度，速率
参考例句：
Einstein's theory links energy with mass and velocity of light.爱因斯坦的理论把能量同质量和光速联系起来。 The velocity of light is about 300000 kilometres per second.光速约为每秒300000公里。

29 considerably
adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上
参考例句：
The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。 The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

30 Augmented
adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句：
'scientists won't be replaced," he claims, "but they will be augmented." 他宣称：“科学家不会被取代；相反，他们会被拓展。” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史 The impact of the report was augmented by its timing. 由于发表的时间选得好，这篇报导的影响更大了。

31 juncture
n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头
参考例句：
The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。 It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。

32 drawn
v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的
参考例句：
All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。 Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。