Each observable ballistic phenomenon of a spin-stabilized rifle bullet can beexplained in terms of the acceleration of gravity and the total aerodynamicforce acting on that bullet. In addition to the coning motion itself, ConingTheory explains the spinning bullet's aerodynamic jump and its steadilyincreasing yaw of repose together with its resulting spin-drift. The totalaerodynamic force on the bullet comprises its drag and lift rectangularcomponents and produces an associated overturning moment acting upon the rigidbullet. The coning motion of the bullet includes two distinct but synchronizedaspects: 1) the well-known gyroscopic precession of the spin-axis of thebullet, and 2) the previously little-known orbiting of the center of gravity ofthe bullet around its mean trajectory with the nose of the bullet angled inwardtoward that trajectory. New equations are developed governing the orbitalmotion of the CG as a circular, isotropic harmonic oscillation driven by thelift and drag forces as they revolve together at the gyroscopic precessionrate. Standard Tri-Cyclic Theory governs the uniform circular precession of thespin-axis driven by the overturning moment acting on the spinning bullet as afree-flying gyroscope. The synchronization of these two motions is the definingprinciple of Coning Theory.
