How do you connect coils in a multistage coil gun?

[Evil Genius]

I have a multistage coil gun. and i was wondering how exactly do u connect the coils together. lol i thought u take wire from the first coil and use that to start the second coil.

 

[Danger]

I'm a bit confused here, but perhaps I'm missing something. The coils shouldn't be connected to each other at all, or else they'd all activate at once.

 

[Evil Genius]

okay so each coil is connected to a their own circuit correct?

 

[Danger]

Right, and the timing is set to maximize the payload acceleration. I don't believe that it is commonly done in coil guns, but mag-lev railroads also alternate the polarity of the drive magnets so they attract the load as it enters their influence, and repel it as it exits.

edit: Note that in the latter case, the payload itself must be magnetized.