Calculating Voltage and Farads for Efficient Rail Gun Launch

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the necessary voltage and capacitance (Farads) for a rail gun designed to launch a projectile over a distance of approximately 6.3 meters, following a parabolic trajectory, with a projectile mass of 6.52 grams. The original poster expresses uncertainty regarding the assumptions of energy transfer in electrical calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply Lorentz Law to estimate the force and subsequently convert that into voltage, but acknowledges confusion about the assumptions involved in the calculations. Some participants question the clarity of the problem statement and the details provided in the original post.

Discussion Status

The discussion is currently limited, with participants seeking more specific information from the original poster to facilitate further assistance. There is a recognition of the vagueness in the attempt at a solution, but no consensus or resolution has been reached.

Contextual Notes

One participant notes that discussions about rail guns may be sensitive or restricted, which could impact the continuation of the thread.

RED119
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Discussion of the design and/or manufacture of dangerous equipment is not permitted. Thread closed.

Homework Statement


So the problem says a rail gun needs to launch a projectile having the set distance of of roughly 6.3m (this isn't a straight shot, its more of a parabolic arc) and it needs to move an object of weighing about 6.52g. So it asks Volts and Farads you would need to get this thing cooking... I am probably wrong but don't most electrical calculations assume perfect transfer of energy and electricity? So I don't know how to get a precise answer...

Homework Equations


Lorentz Law, equation for force

The Attempt at a Solution


If I were to guess at this I would say 6.3 times 6.52, as per Lorentz Law... getting me roughly 41.076... then i took this and converted the force to volts, to get around 241.67V...
 
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Hi RED119 and welcome to PF. Your statement of the problem, equations and attempt at a solution are quite vague. If you are not more specific, we may not be able to offer you help.
 
kuruman said:
Hi RED119 and welcome to PF. Your statement of the problem, equations and attempt at a solution are quite vague. If you are not more specific, we may not be able to offer you help.
I get how my attempt at an answer it vague... since I am really confused about how to get it... but how is the statement of the problem vague at all?
 
Dangerous discussions (rail guns) are not permitted here. This thread is closed.
 

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