Recent content by Cbixel

Also, we think the majority of the current must be conducting over the bottom surface of the ball, and thus, this is where the Lorentz force is acting. I am just glad I did not accidentally create the first "left handed railgun" ever.

I think I have it figured out. The force is, in fact, in the expected direction, or away from me. But, because the ball is between two rails, the axis of rotation is at the elevation of the points of contact between the ball and the rails. Thus, the force, away from me, is acting below the...

So, its pretty level. The ball will not roll without a current applied. If I give it a push either direction, it rolls about the same distance before stopping, so its reasonably level. So, the right hand rule says the force should be away from me. I am at the end of the two rails that is...

I just made a rail gun using two ring stand poles, a steel ball, and a car battery. Maximum velocity is about 5 cm/sec. What is strange is that it is shooting the wrong way. Defying the laws of physics and right hand rule. Any ideas ?