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the science or study of the motion of projectiles, as bullets, shells, or bombs.
the art or science of designing projectiles for maximum flight performance.
Contemporary Examples

He admitted in court that he was not a pathologist, and that he did not have any formal training in ballistics or sound.
Disastrous Turn By Star Witness For Pistorius Defense Kelly Berold April 16, 2014

ballistics evidence showed that the Billings were shot with a 9mm.
Anatomy of a Massacre Rick Outzen August 18, 2009

To be sure, there are professorships, and ballistics experts in the Navy, but these aren’t actually all that well paid.
Educational Inequality Megan McArdle June 26, 2013

The new victims, who range in age from 22 to 43, were linked to 59-year-old Franklin through MO, ballistics, and DNA evidence.
Grim Sleeper Case’s New Bodies Christine Pelisek November 2, 2011

As he puts it in terms that could apply to ballistics, he is “plotting an arc of motions that plotted me.”
Joseph McElroy’s ‘Cannonball’ Is the Meta Iraq War Novel Tom LeClair July 24, 2013

Historical Examples

This point is of the greatest interest to the student of ballistics; but it is curious to even the ordinary reader.
The Land of Footprints Stewart Edward White

It was during the sixteenth century that the science of ballistics had its beginning.
Artillery Through the Ages Albert Manucy

How accurate is the bow and arrow as a weapon of precision, or as they say in ballistics, “What is the error of dispersion?”
Hunting with the Bow and Arrow Saxton Pope

What experience have you had in, say, the field of ballistics?
Warren Commission (4 of 26): Hearings Vol. IV (of 15) The President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

Mr. Lincoln-Halleck aiding—at once understood the laws of ballistics, and other et ceteras which underlay the plan of every siege.
Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863 Adam Gurowski

noun
(functioning as sing) the study of the flight dynamics of projectiles, either through the interaction of the forces of propulsion, the aerodynamics of the projectile, atmospheric resistance, and gravity (exterior ballistics), or through these forces along with the means of propulsion, and the design of the propelling weapon and projectile (interior ballistics)
n.

1753, “art of throwing; science of projectiles,” with -ics + Latin ballista “ancient military machine for hurling stones,” from Greek ballistes, from ballein “to throw, to throw so as to hit,” also in a looser sense, “to put, place, lay;” from PIE root *gwele- “to throw, reach,” in extended senses “to pierce” (cf. Sanskrit apa-gurya “swinging,” balbaliti “whirls, twirls;” Greek bole “a throw, beam, ray,” belemnon “dart, javelin,” belone “needle”). Here, too, probably belongs Greek ballizein “to dance,” literally “to throw one’s body,” ancient Greek dancing being highly athletic.
ballistics
(bə-lĭs’tĭks)
The scientific study of the characteristics of projectiles, such as bullets or missiles, and the way they move in flight.