Science Fair Project Encyclopedia - For other uses of the term,
see Mortar. A mortar is a portable muzzle-loading artillery
piece that fires indirect shells (bombs in the UK) at low
velocities, short ranges, and high arcing ballistic trajectories
(as a weapon or e.g. for firework). All of these attributes are
in comparison with the mortar's larger sibling, howitzers and
field guns, which fire at higher velocities, longer ranges, and
flatter arcs. Typically a modern mortar consists of a tube into
which is dropped a mortar shell (bomb) onto a firing pin
resulting in the detonation of the propellant and the firing of
the shell. Mortars are normally included in infantry units and
often personally see combat action. The chief advantage a mortar
section has over artillery pieces is its small size and its
mobility. It also has the advantage of being able to be fired
from a trench or a defilade, thereby protecting the crew from
enemy fire. In these aspects the mortar is an excellent infantry
support weapon as it can