Projectile vs. Shell — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 8, 2024
A projectile is a general term for any object thrown into space by the exertion of a force, whereas a shell is a specific type of projectile designed for use in warfare, often explosive.
Difference Between Projectile and Shell
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A projectile encompasses a broad range of objects propelled through space, primarily relying on kinetic energy for their impact. This term is widely used in physics to describe anything from a thrown ball to a bullet fired from a gun. On the other hand, a shell is a specialized form of projectile, typically used in military contexts. It is designed to be fired from a large-caliber gun or cannon and is often loaded with explosives, shrapnel, or other destructive materials to maximize damage upon detonation after reaching its target.
While projectiles can be as simple as a stone thrown by hand or as complex as a guided missile, their primary purpose is to hit a target by following a ballistic trajectory. Shells, however, are engineered not just to hit a target but also to cause significant damage upon arrival. This is achieved through the incorporation of explosive materials or other payloads designed to activate on impact or at a predetermined distance.
Projectiles are governed by the basic principles of ballistics, including factors such as gravity, air resistance, and initial velocity, which influence their trajectory and range. In contrast, shells are not only subject to these ballistic principles but are also designed with additional mechanisms like fuses and payload delivery systems to enhance their effectiveness in military applications.
The use of projectiles spans a wide range of activities from sports and recreation to scientific research and law enforcement. Shells are predominantly used in the context of warfare and military engagements, reflecting a specific purpose towards destruction and combat.
The development and study of projectiles have significantly contributed to the fields of physics and engineering, offering insights into motion, aerodynamics, and material science. Conversely, the development of shells has advanced military technology, leading to innovations in ordnance delivery, precision targeting, and explosive chemistry.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
An object propelled through space by a force.
A specific type of projectile for warfare, often explosive.
Use
Broad, including sports and science.
Primarily military, for destruction.
Composition
Can be simple (stones, arrows) or complex (missiles).
Usually complex, with explosives or shrapnel.
Governing Principles
Subject to ballistics (gravity, air resistance).
Ballistics plus mechanisms for detonation or impact effects.
Impact
Relies on kinetic energy or mass.
Designed to cause damage through explosion or fragmentation.
Compare with Definitions
Projectile
An object propelled through space, especially one launched as a weapon.
The catapult hurled a stone projectile over the castle walls during the medieval siege.
Shell
A hollow, usually cylindrical object fired from a large gun or cannon.
The artillery unit fired a shell that exploded above the enemy position, raining down shrapnel.
Projectile
Any object that is thrown, dropped, fired, or otherwise propelled, whose trajectory is affected by external forces.
In physics class, students calculated the trajectory of a projectile launched from a cannon.
Shell
The casing or outer covering of something, often removed before use, such as the outer layer of seeds or certain foods.
She cracked the egg, separating the shell from the liquid inside to make an omelet.
Projectile
A missile designed to be launched or thrown, typically moving under the action of gravity and air resistance.
The archer's arrow, acting as a projectile, soared through the air toward its target.
Shell
In computing, a user interface that gives access to various services of an operating system or software.
He used the command line shell to navigate the file system and execute commands.
Projectile
A term used in sports to refer to an object that is thrown or kicked, such as a ball or javelin.
The football player kicked the ball, turning it into a projectile that sailed between the goalposts.
Shell
A hard, protective outer layer created by animals, such as mollusks, or used metaphorically to describe a protective barrier.
The turtle retreated into its shell at the first sign of danger.
Projectile
An object used in projectile motion studies, often to illustrate principles of gravity and motion.
For their experiment, they used a ball as a simple projectile to measure how angle affects range.
Shell
Used metaphorically to describe a person who is withdrawn or not fully expressive, often as a result of emotional or psychological barriers.
After the accident, she became a shell of her former self, rarely engaging with friends or family.
Projectile
A projectile is a missile propelled by the exertion of a force which is allowed to move free under the influence of gravity and air resistance. Although any objects in motion through space are projectiles, they are commonly found in warfare and sports (for example, a thrown baseball, kicked football, fired bullet, shot arrow, stone released from catapult).In ballistics mathematical equations of motion are used to analyze projectile trajectories through launch, flight, and impact.
Shell
The hard protective outer case of a mollusc or crustacean
Cowrie shells
The technique of carving shell
Projectile
A fired, thrown, or otherwise propelled object, such as a bullet, having no capacity for self-propulsion.
Shell
An explosive artillery projectile or bomb
Shell holes
The sound of the shell passing over, followed by the explosion
Projectile
A self-propelled missile, such as a rocket.
Shell
Something resembling or likened to a shell because of its shape or its function as an outer case
Baked pastry shells filled with cheese
Pasta shells
Projectile
Capable of being impelled or hurled forward.
Shell
The metal framework of a vehicle body.
Projectile
Driving forward; impelling
A projectile force.
Shell
A light racing boat.
Projectile
(Zoology) Capable of being thrust outward; protrusile.
Shell
An inner or roughly made coffin.
Projectile
An object intended to be or having been fired from a weapon.
Shell
The hand guard of a sword.
Projectile
(physics) Any object propelled or thrown through space by the application of a force, such as strong wind.
Shell
Each of a set of orbitals around the nucleus of an atom, occupied or able to be occupied by electrons of similar energies
In a multi-electron atom, the lowest energy shells fill up first
An electron descending from one shell to a lower one emits an X-ray
Projectile
Projecting or impelling forward.
A projectile force; a projectile weapon
Shell
Short for shell program
Projectile
Caused or imparted by impulse or projection; impelled forward.
Shell
Bombard with shells
Several villages north of the security zone were shelled
Projectile
Projecting or impelling forward; as, a projectile force.
Shell
Remove the shell or pod from (a nut or seed)
They were shelling peas
Shelled Brazil nuts
Projectile
Caused or imparted by impulse or projection; impelled forward; as, projectile motion.
Shell
The usually hard outer covering that encases certain organisms, such as insects, turtles, and most mollusks.
Projectile
A body projected, or impelled forward, by force; especially, a missile adapted to be shot from a firearm.
Shell
A similar outer covering on a nut or seed.
Projectile
A part of mechanics which treats of the motion, range, time of flight, etc., of bodies thrown or driven through the air by an impelling force.
Shell
A similar outer covering on certain eggs, such as those of birds and reptiles; an eggshell.
Projectile
A weapon that is thrown or projected
Shell
The material that constitutes such a covering.
Projectile
Impelling or impelled forward;
A projectile force
A projectile missile
Shell
An external, usually hard, protective or enclosing case or cover.
Shell
A framework or exterior, as of a building.
Shell
A thin layer of pastry.
Shell
The external part of the ear.
Shell
The hull of a ship.
Shell
A light, long, narrow racing boat propelled by rowers.
Shell
A small glass for beer.
Shell
An artillery projectile containing an explosive charge.
Shell
An attitude or a manner adopted to mask one's true feelings or to protect one from perceived or real danger
Embarrassed, she withdrew into a shell.
Shell
A set of electron orbitals having nearly the same energy and sharing the same first quantum number.
Shell
Any of the stable states of other particles or collections of particles (such as the nucleons in an atomic nucleus) at a given energy or small range of energies.
Shell
A usually sleeveless and collarless, typically knit blouse.
Shell
A thin, usually waterproof or windproof outer garment for the upper body.
Shell
(Computers) A program that works with the operating system as a command processor, used to enter commands and initiate their execution.
Shell
A company or corporation created by a second company or corporation for the purposes of facilitating a particular transaction, especially one that is intended to be concealed.
Shell
To remove the shell of; shuck
Shell oysters.
Shell
To remove from a shell
Shell peas.
Shell
To separate the kernels of (corn) from the cob.
Shell
To fire shells at; bombard.
Shell
To defeat decisively.
Shell
(Baseball) To hit the pitches of (a pitcher) hard and with regularity
Shelled the pitcher for eight runs in the first inning.
Shell
To shed or become free of a shell.
Shell
To look for or collect shells, as on a seashore
Spent the day shelling on Cape Cod.
Shell
A hard external covering of an animal.
Shell
The calcareous or chitinous external covering of mollusks, crustaceans, and some other invertebrates.
In some mollusks, as the cuttlefish, the shell is concealed by the animal's outer mantle and is considered internal.
Genuine mother-of-pearl buttons are made from sea shells.
Shell
(by extension) Any mollusk having such a covering.
Shell
(entomology) The exoskeleton or wing covers of certain insects.
Shell
The conjoined scutes that constitute the "shell" (carapace) of a tortoise or turtle.
Shell
The overlapping hard plates comprising the armor covering the armadillo's body.
Shell
The hard calcareous covering of a bird egg.
Shell
One of the outer layers of skin of an onion.
The restaurant served caramelized onion shells.
Shell
(botany) The hard external covering of various plant seed forms.
Shell
The covering, or outside part, of a nut.
The black walnut and the hickory nut, both of the same Genus as the pecan, have much thicker and harder shells than the pecan.
Shell
A pod containing the seeds of certain plants, such as the legume Phaseolus vulgaris.
Shell
(in the plural) Husks of cacao seeds, a decoction of which is sometimes used as a substitute or adulterant for cocoa and its products such as chocolate.
Shell
(geology) The accreted mineral formed around a hollow geode.
Shell
(weaponry) The casing of a self-contained single-unit artillery projectile.
Shell
(weaponry) A hollow, usually spherical or cylindrical projectile fired from a siege mortar or a smoothbore cannon. It contains an explosive substance designed to be ignited by a fuse or by percussion at the target site so that it will burst and scatter at high velocity its contents and fragments. Formerly called a bomb.
Shell
(weaponry) The cartridge of a breechloading firearm; a load; a bullet; a round.
Shell
(architecture) Any slight hollow structure; a framework, or exterior structure, regarded as not complete or filled in, as the shell of a house.
Shell
A garment, usually worn by women, such as a shirt, blouse, or top, with short sleeves or no sleeves, that often fastens in the rear.
Shell
A coarse or flimsy coffin; a thin interior coffin enclosed within a more substantial one.
Shell
(music) A string instrument, as a lyre, whose acoustical chamber is formed like a shell.
The first lyre may have been made by drawing strings over the underside of a tortoise shell.
Shell
(music) The body of a drum; the often wooden, often cylindrical acoustic chamber, with or without rims added for tuning and for attaching the drum head.
Shell
An engraved copper roller used in print works.
Shell
The thin coating of copper on an electrotype.
Shell
(nautical) The watertight outer covering of the hull of a vessel, often made with planking or metal plating.
Shell
The outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve.
Shell
(nautical) A light boat whose frame is covered with thin wood, impermeable fabric, or water-proofed paper; a racing shell or dragon boat.
Shell
(chemistry) A set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number.
Shell
(figuratively) The outward form independent of what is inside.
Shell
(figuratively) The empty outward form of someone or something.
The setback left him a mere shell; he was never the same again.
Shell
An emaciated person.
He's lost so much weight from illness; he's a shell of his former self.
Shell
A psychological barrier to social interaction.
Even after months of therapy he's still in his shell.
Shell
(computing) An operating system software user interface, whose primary purpose is to launch other programs and control their interactions; the user's command interpreter. Shell is a way to separate the internal complexity of the implementation of the command from the user. The internals can change while the user experience/interface remains the same.
Shell
(business) A legal entity that has no operations.
A shell corporation was formed to acquire the old factory.
Shell
A concave rough cast-iron tool in which a convex lens is ground to shape.
Shell
(engineering) A gouge bit or shell bit.
Shell
(phonology) The onset and coda of a syllable.
Shell
A person's ear.
Can I have a quick word in your shell?
Shell
To remove the outer covering or shell of something.
Shell
(informal) To disburse or give up money, to pay. (Often used with out).
Shell
(intransitive) To fall off, as a shell, crust, etc.
Shell
(intransitive) To cast the shell, or exterior covering; to fall out of the pod or husk.
Nuts shell in falling.
Wheat or rye shells in reaping.
Shell
To switch to a shell or command line.
Shell
To form shallow, irregular cracks (in a coating).
Shell
(topology) To form a shelling.
Shell
A hard outside covering, as of a fruit or an animal.
Think him as a serpent's egg, . . .And kill him in the shell.
Shell
The hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of mollusks, crustaceans, and some other invertebrates. In some mollusks, as the cuttlefishes, it is internal, or concealed by the mantle. Also, the hard covering of some vertebrates, as the armadillo, the tortoise, and the like.
Shell
A hollow projectile, of various shapes, adapted for a mortar or a cannon, and containing an explosive substance, ignited with a fuse or by percussion, by means of which the projectile is burst and its fragments scattered. See Bomb.
Shell
The case which holds the powder, or charge of powder and shot, used with breechloading small arms.
Shell
Any slight hollow structure; a framework, or exterior structure, regarded as not complete or filled in; as, the shell of a house.
Shell
A coarse kind of coffin; also, a thin interior coffin inclosed in a more substantial one.
Shell
An instrument of music, as a lyre, - the first lyre having been made, it is said, by drawing strings over a tortoise shell.
When Jubal struck the chorded shell.
Shell
An engraved copper roller used in print works.
Shell
The husks of cacao seeds, a decoction of which is often used as a substitute for chocolate, cocoa, etc.
Shell
The outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve.
Shell
A light boat the frame of which is covered with thin wood or with paper; as, a racing shell.
Shell
Something similar in form or action to an ordnance shell;
Shell
A concave rough cast-iron tool in which a convex lens is ground to shape.
Shell
A gouge bit or shell bit.
Shell
To strip or break off the shell of; to take out of the shell, pod, etc.; as, to shell nuts or pease; to shell oysters.
Shell
To separate the kernels of (an ear of Indian corn, wheat, oats, etc.) from the cob, ear, or husk.
Shell
To throw shells or bombs upon or into; to bombard; as, to shell a town.
Shell
To fall off, as a shell, crust, etc.
Shell
To cast the shell, or exterior covering; to fall out of the pod or husk; as, nuts shell in falling.
Shell
To be disengaged from the ear or husk; as, wheat or rye shells in reaping.
Shell
The material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals
Shell
Hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles
Shell
The hard usually fibrous outer layer of some fruits especially nuts
Shell
The exterior covering of a bird's egg
Shell
A rigid covering that envelops an object;
The satellite is covered with a smooth shell of ice
Shell
A very light narrow racing boat
Shell
The housing or outer covering of something;
The clock has a walnut case
Shell
The hard largely calcareous covering of a mollusc
Shell
Use explosives on;
The enemy has been shelling us all day
Shell
Fall out of the pod or husk;
The corn shelled
Shell
Hit the pitches of hard and regularly;
He shelled the pitcher for eight runs in the first inning
Shell
Look for and collect shells by the seashore
Shell
Come out better in a competition, race, or conflict;
Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship
We beat the competition
Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game
Shell
Remove from its shell or outer covering;
Shell the legumes
Shell mussels
Shell
Remove the husks from;
Husk corn
Common Curiosities
What principles govern the motion of projectiles?
The motion of projectiles is governed by ballistics, which considers factors like gravity, air resistance, and velocity.
How do projectiles and shells differ in their use?
Projectiles have a wide range of uses, including in sports, research, and weaponry, while shells are specifically designed for military applications to cause destruction.
Are all shells considered projectiles?
Yes, all shells are considered projectiles, but not all projectiles are shells since projectiles encompass a broader category.
What is a projectile?
A projectile is any object that is thrown, fired, or launched through space upon which external forces, especially gravity and air resistance, act.
Why are shells used in warfare?
Shells are used in warfare to deliver explosive payloads over distances, causing destruction upon detonation.
Are there any environmental considerations with using shells?
Yes, the use of explosive shells can have significant environmental impacts, including pollution and habitat destruction.
Do shells always contain explosives?
While most shells contain explosives, some are designed for specific purposes like illumination or smoke generation and may not be explosive.
How does air resistance affect a projectile?
Air resistance slows down a projectile's speed and can alter its trajectory, especially over long distances.
What is a shell?
A shell is a type of ammunition that is projected by a large-caliber firearm and typically contains explosives, designed to detonate on or before impact.
Can projectiles be non-lethal?
Yes, projectiles can be non-lethal, such as rubber bullets or bean bags used in law enforcement.
What materials can projectiles be made of?
Projectiles can be made from a variety of materials, including metal, rubber, or even plastic, depending on their intended use.
What is the purpose of a shell's fuse?
A shell's fuse is designed to detonate the explosive charge at a specific time, either on impact or after a predetermined delay.
How have projectiles evolved over time?
Projectiles have evolved from simple hand-thrown objects to sophisticated guided missiles, reflecting advancements in technology and materials science.
Can the trajectory of a projectile be predicted?
Yes, the trajectory of a projectile can be predicted using the principles of ballistics, assuming the initial conditions and external forces are known.
How is the range of a projectile determined?
The range of a projectile is determined by its initial velocity, angle of launch, and the effects of gravity and air resistance.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
