This paper presents a brief review of the ballistic motion of pistons, and includes a survey of rapid expansion machines used for the study of thermodynamic properties of gases. The datum solution is given to the problem of the piston being propelled by a perfect gas expanding isentropically through a simple wave. The problem concerning the motion of a piston in a tube with gas on each side of the piston is discussed and the solution is presented. It is shown that this problem can be discussed in terms of four dimensionless parameters, and the results of calculations are presented graphically in terms of the parameters developed.
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