Which angle is critical when adjusting the gun barrel for gravity's effect?

The critical angle when adjusting the gun barrel for gravity's effect is super elevation. Super elevation refers to the angle at which the gun barrel is elevated above the horizontal plane to counteract the effects of gravity on a projectile's trajectory. When a projectile is fired, it follows a curved path due to gravitational pull. To ensure that the projectile reaches its intended target, especially at longer distances, the gun must be aimed at a higher angle, which is referred to as the super elevation angle. This adjustment is essential for accurately hitting targets that are at varying elevations or distances. Properly setting the super elevation allows for the curvature of the projectile's flight path, ensuring that it compensates for gravity’s pull.

In contrast, drift angle relates to the horizontal deviation of a projectile due to wind or other factors, sight angle pertains to the angle formed between the line of sight and the horizontal, and lead angle is concerned with targeting moving objects by accounting for their speed and direction, none of which directly address the influence of gravity on a projectile's path as super elevation does.