Rail Gun

[Red Hypergiant]

So, as a science project, I was thinking about making a rail gun. I have researched them a bit, but there's still a lot I don't understand about them. What's necessary? What do all the equations mean? I could use all the help I could get.

 

Thanks.

[-Demosthenes-]

I think you want two rails right next to each other with currents going in opposite directions. If I'm not mistaken if you put a conductive material across the two it should send it flying... or it'll just get really hot I would watch some youtube videos. I'm pretty sure the current going through the projectile is acted on by the magnetic fields (induced by the current going through the rails) and according to the right hand rule (the force is perpendicular to the original direction of particle and the magnetic field, or b field) it's sent down the rails. But it can go either direction depending on the direction of the currents in the rails, so be careful!

[Red Hypergiant]

I knew most of that, but thanks for replying!

 

(And thanks for reminding me that it could shoot either way! Lol, that would be a catastrophe if I forgot!)

Edited October 23, 2010 by Red Hypergiant

[Mr Skeptic]

Actually, Wikipedia has a very good article on them:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railgun

 

You'd be wise to get the basics down before trying to build one, and it also has a list of considerations for building one.

[Red Hypergiant]

OK, thanks!

[dragonstar57]

http://www.powerlabs.org/railgun.htm

http://www.powerlabs.org/railgun2.htm