Coil Gun: How It Works & Physics Behind It

  • Thread starter Thread starter Poseidonho
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Coil Gun Work
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the physics of coil guns, emphasizing that the magnetic field is generated by electric current rather than voltage. Ampere's law is referenced to explain the relationship between current and magnetic fields, with solenoids mentioned as a method to enhance magnetic field strength. The conversation also touches on the conversion of magnetic force to mechanical force when a metal projectile is propelled. It is clarified that the calculation of mechanical force can be derived from the magnetic field, although specific equations are not provided. Overall, understanding the interplay between current, magnetic fields, and mechanical force is crucial for the operation of coil guns.
Poseidonho
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
What is the physics behind coil gun.

For the magnetic field part, that is convert a electric voltage to the magnetic field. How the magnetic field related to the voltage?
Is there any equation for the conversion the voltage to the magnetic field, maxwell or others?


After that, the magnetic field will push to metal bullet, in this case is it the force is convert from magnetic force to the mechanical force? How to calculate the mechanical force from the magnetic field?

Thanks alot
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Every current has an associated magnetic field - see Ampere's law.

When you arrange the current carrying wire appropriately you can increase the magnetic field strength - see solenoids.

When the current is pulsed correctly a metal object can be moved ... do it right and you have a magnetic coil gun: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coilgun

For other techniques see magnetic rail guns: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railgun
 
  • Like
Likes 1 person
Poseidonho said:
What is the physics behind coil gun.

For the magnetic field part, that is convert a electric voltage to the magnetic field. How the magnetic field related to the voltage?
Is there any equation for the conversion the voltage to the magnetic field, maxwell or others?

It's not the voltage that determines the magnetic field, it's the current. The voltage and resistance set the current flow.
 
UltrafastPED said:
Every current has an associated magnetic field - see Ampere's law.

When you arrange the current carrying wire appropriately you can increase the magnetic field strength - see solenoids.

When the current is pulsed correctly a metal object can be moved ... do it right and you have a magnetic coil gun: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coilgun

For other techniques see magnetic rail guns: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railgun



For the rail gun, the magnetic field on rail do not play any role, Right?
 
Drakkith said:
It's not the voltage that determines the magnetic field, it's the current. The voltage and resistance set the current flow.


Thanks,

by the way do we can equal the magnetic force to mechanical force?
 
The rope is tied into the person (the load of 200 pounds) and the rope goes up from the person to a fixed pulley and back down to his hands. He hauls the rope to suspend himself in the air. What is the mechanical advantage of the system? The person will indeed only have to lift half of his body weight (roughly 100 pounds) because he now lessened the load by that same amount. This APPEARS to be a 2:1 because he can hold himself with half the force, but my question is: is that mechanical...
Hello everyone, Consider the problem in which a car is told to travel at 30 km/h for L kilometers and then at 60 km/h for another L kilometers. Next, you are asked to determine the average speed. My question is: although we know that the average speed in this case is the harmonic mean of the two speeds, is it also possible to state that the average speed over this 2L-kilometer stretch can be obtained as a weighted average of the two speeds? Best regards, DaTario
Some physics textbook writer told me that Newton's first law applies only on bodies that feel no interactions at all. He said that if a body is on rest or moves in constant velocity, there is no external force acting on it. But I have heard another form of the law that says the net force acting on a body must be zero. This means there is interactions involved after all. So which one is correct?
Back
Top