Recoilless Railgun?

[Daymare17]

I have heard that the main obstacle to producing a portable railgun, apart from miniaturizing the power source, is the immense recoil involved in launching an object at such a speed. Can this be solved by making it a two-way railgun, i.e. so that the mechanism, at the pull of the trigger, in addition to launching the projectile, launches an object of equal mass and velocity to the projectile in the diametrically opposite direction? would this neutralize recoil?

 

This is the principle used in the Bazooka, for instance.

[aommaster]

Well, if you are talking theoretically, as long as both the projectiles are moving exactly opposite to each other and in exactly the same speed (they should also have the same mass), yes, it will neutralise the recoil.

 

However, you can also vary the mass of the projectile that is going in the opposite direction. The bigger the mass, the slower it shoots out the other end, given that the original projectile moves at exactly the same speed.

 

So, theoretically speaking... yes!

[[Tycho?]]

Recoil isn't a problem in rail guns.

 

Problems are:

-how much energy they use, and how to use it efficiently

-wear and tear on the rails caused by friction, super high currents and stress can cause the rails to become unusable after only a single shot

[dharvin]

how about mounting the gun itself on a damper. this would be like one of those old guns we see in movies, when the gun fires, the barrel moves back a short distance with the damper absorbing the recoil.

[Klatu]

Group,

 

The recoil effect is an interaction of masses and applied force. If the projectile has very little mass the recoil effect is small, as compared to a larger mass.

There is also a 'trade off' with the force applied. If the projectile has very little mass but the force is very large the recoil effect will still be considerable.

The faster a given mass accelerates the more force is required to continue the acceleration. It's as if the mass of the object increases with velocity.

 

The recoil effect can be suppressed by using the counter emf of the charged coils to cause a push and pull effect on the projectile as oppossed to a singular or continuous push or pull effect. This would reduce the net effect on the mechanics to near zero.

 

Such a device placed in space perhaps in a shaded area would negate the need for supercooling the coils(-400F), there by conserving weight and electrical power. It should also be possible to not use rails as guides so long as the projectile is introduced into the center of the coils in a microgravity environment.

 

It' seems that outer space is the only practical place to use this device, now the question is... for what purpose?

 

K

[vrus]

Group' date='

 

The recoil effect is an interaction of masses and applied force. If the projectile has very little mass the recoil effect is small, as compared to a larger mass.

There is also a 'trade off' with the force applied. If the projectile has very little mass but the force is very large the recoil effect will still be considerable.

The faster a given mass accelerates the more force is required to continue the acceleration. It's as if the mass of the object increases with velocity.

 

The recoil effect can be suppressed by using the counter emf of the charged coils to cause a push and pull effect on the projectile as oppossed to a singular or continuous push or pull effect. This would reduce the net effect on the mechanics to near zero.

 

Such a device placed in space perhaps in a shaded area would negate the need for supercooling the coils(-400F), there by conserving weight and electrical power. It should also be possible to not use rails as guides so long as the projectile is introduced into the center of the coils in a microgravity environment.

 

It' seems that outer space is the only practical place to use this device, now the question is... for what purpose?

 

K[/quote']

 

Have you heard of the american star wars project ? Vaporize incoming ballistic missiles in mid-air... Rail-guns are one option. They can also launch satellites into orbit from earth. maybe, provide an initial momentum for interplanetary probes...

[Klatu]

Vrus,

 

Yes I have heard of many stories regarding a weapon that can intercept missles, but it still amounts to shooting a bullet with a bullet.

The odds of success when it matters is very small.

 

There is an interesting video clip taken by someone on the international space station that shows what appears to be a rail gun targeting something approaching the earth which makes a hasty 180 degree turn as if under intelligent control.

Since the public airing of that clip and the many emails that followed, NASA's policy is to not show any clip without full sensorship to the public.

 

A truely curious policy seeing as NASA is funded by our taxes.

 

Not surprizing... we have'nt gotten truth or fact from our government in 5 decades.

 

You may wish review Tom Beardens website, it has some very interesting information about a well developed Russian technology th US seems to know very little or nothing about.

 

http://www.cheniere.org/toc.html

 

K

[Klatu]

Vrus,

 

Yes I have heard of many stories regarding a weapon that can intercept missles, but it still amounts to shooting a bullet with a bullet.

The odds of success when it matters is very small.

 

There is an interesting video clip taken by someone on the international space station that shows what appears to be a rail gun targeting something approaching the earth which makes a hasty 180 degree turn as if under intelligent control.

Since the public airing of that clip and the many emails that followed, NASA's policy is to not show any clip without full sensorship to the public.

 

A truely curious policy seeing as NASA is funded by our taxes.

 

Not surprizing... we have'nt gotten truth or fact from our government in 5 decades.

 

You may wish review Tom Beardens website, it has some very interesting information about a well developed Russian technology th US seems to know very little or nothing about.

 

http://www.cheniere.org/toc.html

 

K

[Klatu]

Vrus,

 

Perhaps after reviewing Tom's work we can disscuss some of the deeper aspects of this new technology?

 

K