Rail gun Definition and 28 Threads

Why don't cars use something like a rail gun instead of combustion to drive pistons?

A rail gun exerts an electromagnetic force on a projectile. The only moving object is the projectile, so is the point of application of force moving? Update - For others reading this thread, after a re-think on this, for linear motion (as opposed to angular motion), the point of application of...

if one once of Iron was accelerated to 80% of the speed of light, could this be use of as a means of thrust for an interplanetary probe? where the probe has a continuous expulsion of Iron. and ignoring the need massive amount of power.

Summary: FRB's source as Rail and/or Coil Guns (or mass drivers) Hello, I've been studying rail and coil guns recently, and certain applications of this technology can result in some pretty high speeds with a significant amount of mass. I've been wondering if these FRB's could be a result of...

Homework Statement Homework Equations F_f = Nu F_B - IL x B The Attempt at a Solution [/B] Using the hint "The rod will begin to move when the force of friction is equal to the force due to the magnetic field." I was able to get the answer But I don't understand why it is that way. In...

I am planning to conduct an academic experiment involving an electromagnetic projectile. I originally planned to build a rail gun powered by a 400V 2200µF capacitor, I've read a lot of discussions that say rail guns require a tremendous amount of current. Is this capacitor sufficient to propel...

After reading the following article and watching it's accompanying video I'm left wondering if the technology could be used for other projects than military. I understand that military programs account for many useful (as well as profitable) commercial ventures, but this one has me wondering...

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 ?

Hi I’m a high school senior taking physics and had this crazy idea for nuclear waste disposal. Given: Space is a good place to put nuclear waste Rockets can malfunction possibly leading to their nuclear waste payload being being dispersed I thought of looking toward a rail gun. I found a...

Two parallel electromagnets situated symmetrically on either side of the straight section of an oval track propel a wheeled trolley along the track, so that the trolley is in continuous motion, as long as the current is supplied to the electromagnets. Is this workable? Does the entry and exit...

Doubtless you are all familiar with a rail gun made by using permanent magnets. An example is given here: http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/magnets/gauss.html Assuming the railgun could me made curved, won't it be possible to build a curved track to transport the projectile - assume...

So I once saw a intersting video made by some guys for a school project , now I finalle decided to have a share with you and ask some question. Such videos are also put up by the free energy guys but let's not focus on that for now shall we. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo2-Qb3fUYs...

Is it possible to pervert a rail gun into a rocket? I'm understanding that plasma conducts electricity. If i could supply a rail gun with constant current and send in a constant feed of hot plasma into the rail gun would the machine send out plasma at high enough speeds to be used as a rocket...

This video is from 2007 but it stated the goal at that time was a 64 mega-joule weapon? I understand the advantages of extended range but it seems like a huge, awkward, and expensive weapon to deliver a relatively small amount of energy. 64 mega-joules is the equivalent of only 14 kg of TNT...

http://www.brightstorm.com/science/physics/magnetism/faradays-law-lenzs-law/# Start at about 7:10 and watch until about 8:20. I can see that an emf and hence a current will be induced in the rod between the two rails BUT if there is no external magnetic field (the magnetic field generated by...

Homework Statement The planet Zargon has a magnetic field that is oriented the same as Earth’s, but has a magnitude of 1.26 T! A Royal Zargon Warrior is exploring the Badlands at the Zargon equator when he senses that a vicious octomorph is on top of the rock pillar 9.50 m above him. He dare...

Homework Statement Hello. I want to help a friend solve a problem. I'm having trouble finding the right way to solve for distance for this problem. I am given 2 parallel wires connected by another wire or perhaps a conducting fuse. His information is kind of vague, sorry. The current goes up...

If a rail gun works by having an object that moves along a path, where either side has opposite charge, could that same principle be applied in air? I am not talking about an ion thruster, that already exists. I am saying, if wasting energy was not an issue, could it be possible to charge the...

Homework Statement attached Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I think i need to use energy methods for this because the acceleration is not constant.. trouble is I don't know the formula for the potential energy in cases like this. Thanks for any help.

Homework Statement An electromagnetic rail gun can fire a projectile using a magnetic field and an electric current. Consider two parallel conducting rails, separated by 0.575 m, which run north and south. A 49.0-g conducting rod is placed across the tracks and a battery is connected between...

I've been thinking about an idea for a while now... what if you take a rail gun set up and instead of shooting something you turn it into a motor. Just make the rails into hoops that almost touch and connect the armature to a point in the center of this. I'm wondering how armature (now a rotor)...

Hello, I am a high school senior making a railgun for my science fair project. I have been searching the internet and have finally come up with a plan for my railgun. I have some questions about my plan before I go out and buy materials. I have two questions currently, one about rails and one...

For my Final Project for my AP Physics class is a rail gun. But I am having trouble getting it to fire anything or even move it. I have no trouble charging the bank but when it is discharged into the rails the projectile doesn't move. I am using 11, 330v disposable camera capacitors in...

Hey, I made a rail gun that is 3" long with a disposible camera's flash charger. The one problem i had was that i couldn't get the spark to jump across the two rails. So i took a piece of metal with plastic on the outside and touched the bolts on opposite sides and got a large spark but not...

Hi, I was just wondering if a projectile that is launched with a rail gun exerts a force in the opposite direction on the frame of the gun itself? Thanks, Jason O

Need Help: Looking for college level proffesor or someone "qualified" to interview Im doing my senior project on Rail Guns and as a requirement I need to interview "qualified" people, asking them questions pertaining to my project. I'm looking for atleast one person to interview, 2 would be...

I am working on a project for graduation and I am writing a paper on rail guns, but I am having trrouble understanding the basic principle behind it, Loretnz Force. I've tried to look online for a good site that explains it in laymens terms, but I can't seem to find one. I know that current...

Hi I'm trying to come up with an expression for the accleration of the rod in Rail Gun. The conducting rod is free to slide on two parallel rails with negligible friction. At the right end of the rails, a voltage source of strength "V" in series with a resistor of resistance "R" makes a...