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Subject: 
Re: How Railguns Actually Work...
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.build.mecha, lugnet.space
Date: 
Sun, 26 Aug 2001 14:40:51 GMT
Viewed: 
29 times
  
In lugnet.build.mecha, Colin R. Gutierrez writes:
Arrgh.  I guess I better clear this up for everybody now.  Allow the
classic underachiever to explain...
Gauss guns [in general] propell a projectile by electromagnetism.  There
are two main types:  Coil guns and rail guns.
Coil guns actually have electromagnets in them.  The projectile in a
coil gun also has its own coil (kind of like a solenoid without the
piston.)  When the device is fired, electricity passes through the
electromagnets of the gun as well as the coil in the projectile (in the
opposite direction) so the fields are in opposition.  Hence, they push
against eachother and the coil exits at high speed.
Rail guns on the other hand, have no electromagnets in them at all, to
speak of. They work very simply, by passing high amperage/low voltage
current through two very close metal rails (usually copper) in opposite
directions and through the projectile itself, (usually aluminum.)  See
this diagram:
http://www.geocities.com/vrey_oneida/gauss1.jpg
As you probably already know, when electricity passes through a wire, an
electromagnetic field forms in a circle around the direction of the
current.  When it goes through the two rails in opposite directions, the
magnetic fields are also in opposition, forcing the projectile out in a
manner very similar to squeezing a pumpkin seed between your fingers
until it shoots across the room.  The only reason such a simple device
is so difficult to perfect is because the rails tend to be exploded
outward because the magnetic fields needed are too great.  So it's
really a matter of material science.  The ones that the navy are working
on have barrels that are something like 20 times the diameter of the
projectile they shoot.
Anyway, I've rambled on long enough.  I hope that clears things up for
you all.
--Colin

big-o snippage,

Yup, I get it (for the second time)

Thanks

-Geordan-



Message is in Reply To:
  How Railguns Actually Work...
 
Arrgh. I guess I better clear this up for everybody now. Allow the classic underachiever to explain... Gauss guns [in general] propell a projectile by electromagnetism. There are two main types: Coil guns and rail guns. Coil guns actually have (...) (23 years ago, 26-Aug-01, to lugnet.build.mecha, lugnet.space)

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