How can I make my gauss rifle shoot faster?

[Lisa.de.Vries]

Hey there,

I've built a gauss rifle at school with 10 graphite magnets (diameter 25mm) and balls with the same diameter. The magnets are placed as close to each other as they can get. Unfortunately the last ball does not leave the rifle with a great speed (2 km/h ). So I changed it for a smaller and lighter version, and I managed to get a speed of 5 km/h. On the website of scitoys, where I got the idea from, they show a munch faster rifle. I wanted to use neodymium magnets, but since my teacher thought they are too dangerous, I decided to go for these more safe ones. I really want to get my rifle to shoot pretty fast, but how do I get it to do so?

Many thanks,


Lisa

 

[Aaron Bex]

Hi Lisa,

It sounds like you've made some progress with your Gauss rifle, but it's still not firing as fast as you'd like. Have you tried experimenting with different types of balls, such as ones made of different materials or different weights? You may also want to adjust the distance between the magnets to see if that helps with the speed. Lastly, if you're allowed to use neodymium magnets, that could also help increase the speed of your projectiles. Good luck!

 

[GSXR750]

Hi Lisa,

There are a few things you can try to make your gauss rifle shoot faster:

1. Increase the number of magnets: Adding more magnets to your rifle will increase the force and speed of the projectile. You can try using smaller and lighter magnets, but make sure they are still strong enough to create a strong magnetic field.

2. Use stronger magnets: Neodymium magnets are known for their incredible strength and can greatly increase the speed of your gauss rifle. If your teacher is concerned about safety, you can try using smaller neodymium magnets or encasing them in a protective material.

3. Optimize the placement of the magnets: The closer the magnets are to each other, the stronger the magnetic field will be. Make sure the distance between the magnets is as small as possible while still allowing the projectile to pass through.

4. Use a lighter projectile: A lighter projectile will be easier for the magnets to accelerate, resulting in a faster speed. You can try using smaller and lighter balls or even paper clips as projectiles.

5. Experiment with different materials: The type of materials used for the magnets and projectile can also affect the speed of your gauss rifle. Try using different types of magnets and materials for the projectile to see which combination works best.

Remember to always prioritize safety when experimenting with your gauss rifle. Good luck!