Would This Setup for a Ball Bearing Accelerator Work?

[WorldWiz]

TL;DR Summary

Proposal to Use an Inductor Coil underneath Wire Tracks to Accelerate Ball Bearings

I need a method to accelerate a ball bearing down a pair of wire tracks, and to generate a consistent amount of force on every activation. Please critique my tentative design:

I want to use an inductive coil activated by a proximity sensor to generate a transient EM field to accelerate the ball bearing. Since the ball just runs on a pair of wires, I think I may need to place the coil below the tracks (rather than run the tracks through the center of a solenoid), so that there will be some force keeping the ball from flying off the tracks.

As follow-up questions, I’m also wondering if I would get better current to field strength efficiency with a toroid core inductor coil or with a bar core inductor coil generating the attractive magnetic field? I also don’t entirely understand the Q-factor, so for my purposes, would an iron core or a ferrite core be a better choice?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Baluncore]

I need a method to accelerate a ball bearing down a pair of wire tracks, and to generate a consistent amount of force on every activation. Please critique my tentative design:

Will the ball roll or slide as it travels along the tracks ?
If it rolls, the kinetic energy will be reduced by the rotational energy.
If it slides, the kinetic energy will only be reduced by friction.
If both, the velocity will be unpredictable.

Skin effect will limit the depth of the ball subjected to the magnetic field pulse. The currents and magnetic field, induced in the surface of the ball, will rotate with the ball. You might get a greater launch speed from a hollow sphere, or an aluminium ring.

 

[berkeman]

As follow-up questions, I’m also wondering if I would get better current to field strength efficiency with a toroid core inductor coil or with a bar core inductor coil generating the attractive magnetic field?

So you didn't read my replies in your other thread? That is most disappointing...