| Cacique Caribe | 15 Dec 2009 12:20 a.m. PST |
Check this out:
YouTube link And 6:40 minutes into this clip:
YouTube link Very basic, but cool:
Low mass + high velocity = BIG boom! Anyone ever tried making miniature model of a rail gun? Dan |
| Covert Walrus | 15 Dec 2009 12:51 a.m. PST |
Dan, you can probably find a scale model working rail gun somewhere around the places you live and work; A solenoid is exactly like a rail gun with only one functional difference – the rod is kept from becoming a projectile by limiting it's movement. And you do not need to have a higher velocity to get advantages in a railgun – the lack of explosive ammunition and adjustable range by varying voltages are two theoritical improvements over conventional guns that 'mass drivers' with standard muzzle velocities have. Thanks for the links, though – Lots of fun there! :) |
| AndrewGPaul | 15 Dec 2009 7:58 a.m. PST |
A solenoid is likely to be more like a coilgun than a railgun, to be pedantic about it. :) In answer to your question, CC, yes: link |
Frederick  | 15 Dec 2009 8:06 a.m. PST |
I always thought those UBC guys were a tricky bunch |
| Cacique Caribe | 15 Dec 2009 9:26 a.m. PST |
I found it interesting that they would use a separatist/rebel lunar colony as an example of a future war. Dan |
 Legion 4 | 15 Dec 2009 11:21 a.m. PST |
I love the God Rod … a Nuc kind thing without the Rads !  |
| Cacique Caribe | 15 Dec 2009 2:47 p.m. PST |
I guess it's the same principle behind small asteroids making big explosions . . . like Tunguska: link Dan |
| Covert Walrus | 15 Dec 2009 3:47 p.m. PST |
It's all in the maths – Force equals mass times velocity. To quote Joe Haldeman – "The (object) was moving at about .99c when it contacted the Tauran battleship . . . At that velocity, it doesn't matter whether you're hit with a Nova bomb or a spitwad. " |
| Covert Walrus | 15 Dec 2009 3:50 p.m. PST |
Andrew commented - "A solenoid is likely to be more like a coilgun than a railgun, to be pedantic about it. :)" To be even more pedantic, a Coil Gun can also be a conventional cannon from the late 19th century, constructed by wrapping hot steel around a form in a coiling motion to make a stronger, lighter weapon than casting one piece barrels and then drilling them out. But that's another story . . . :) |
| Lampyridae | 15 Dec 2009 8:21 p.m. PST |
Actual coil guns were also marketed to the US Navy as far back as pre WWI. Can't remember who it was though – Marconi? Unfortunately one of the prototypes blew up at a demonstration, peppering admirals with shrapnel. They were, shall we say, less than impressed. |
| Lion in the Stars | 16 Dec 2009 9:54 a.m. PST |
CC, you already used a limited coilgun when you started your car this morning: The starter solenoid. Biggest problem with any electromagnetic accelerator is the amount of juice you need, multiplied by how fast you need it. Unfortunately one of the prototypes blew up at a demonstration, peppering admirals with shrapnel. They were, shall we say, less than impressed. Still a problem today. Anything conductive enough to make a decent magnetic field isn't tough enough to survive the stresses. Classic railguns rarely last more than 30 shots before the rails need to be replaced, and there are some magnetic coil designs that intentionally shred themselves in a single pulse. |
| retzlaffmd | 16 Dec 2009 11:10 a.m. PST |
Coming soon! the sci-fi musket! |
